• The Greater Jacksonville Agricultural Fair also kicks off Wednesday, October 29 and will be at the Jacksonville Fair Grounds through November 9.  Click here for a daily listing of times, contests, entertainment and specials events.

• The 22nd Annual Tree Lighting will take place at The Landing on November 28.  The lighting of the 50 foot tree will be at 7 p.m.

• The City of Jacksonville invites boaters to the 23rd annual Jacksonville Light Parade, Saturday, November 29 at 7 p.m. on the Downtown riverfront. The First Coast boating community will decorate their vessels from bow to stern to compete in the largest lighted boat parade.  There will be fireworks following the parade.  For information about registering, please contact the Office of Special Events at 630-3690 or visit www.coj.net and click on Light Parade.

Mayor’s Staff Focus on Downtown
• Mayor Peyton and his staff spent a day touring Downtown and visiting retail tenants to help reinforce the vision and objectives for the urban core.  The tour, led by JEDC Executive Director Ron Barton, helped the group to learn more about Downtown infrastructure needs, activity centers and redevelopment opportunities as addressed in the Downtown Action Plan.

Metropolitan Park Charrette Visioning Workshop
• Come share your ideas for a potential redesign of Metropolitan Park.  The Metropolitan Park Charrette Visioning Workshop will be held at the Ed Ball Building on Saturday, November 15, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.  Your input into this effort will help guide the transformation of the riverfront of Downtown Jacksonville.  For more information or to RSVP, please contact Susan Harrell at 356-2846 or director@jaxpride.com.  

Empty Bowls Luncheon
• The 24th Annual Empty Bowls Luncheon is Tuesday, November 18 from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. at the Prime Osborn Convention Center. The luncheon will benefit the Second Harvest Food Bank of North Florida.  For more information, contact special events coordinator Tia R. Ford at 904.739.7074 or e-mail tford@wenourishhope.org. Tickets can also be ordered online at www.wenourishhope.org.

Bay Street Improvements
• The tree stumps have been removed from the sidewalk along Bay Street across from Maxwell House Plant and the holes have been filled with concrete, making it easier for pedestrians to walk to and from the Sports District.

• The new Bay Street Bridge is now open.  Construction of the bridge at Hogan’s Creek is complete.  The bridge was widened from 40 foot to a new 80 foot width.  Sidewalks on the bridge were also improved. 

Downtown Retail Updates
• La Cena on Laura Street is now open for lunch Wednesday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.  Previously, it was only open for dinner.

• A new bar is opening in Downtown across from the Florida Theatre.  The new owners applied for a liquor license to the DDRB in September and plan to open within the next six months.