The Jacksonville Symphony opens its ambitious 2026-27 season this weekend with a pair of free Community Concerts, showing off improvements to Jacoby Symphony Hall and giving fans a glimpse of what's to come in the next nine months or so.
Unfortunately, the tickets are all claimed, so you either have one or you don't. If you do, you'll enjoy an evening led by Na'Zir McFadden, the symphony's associate conductor and a rising star in the classical field. If not, there's still plenty of shows on the schedule, which runs into June and includes around 40 different events.
The symphony will play the Masterworks, of course, with performances of Mozart, Tchaikovsky, Stravinsky, Mahler, Beethoven, Brahms, Shostakovich, Bach and Romaninoff. They'll also welcome
PBS travel host Rick Steves and a cirque troupe, play the scores to "Home Alone" and the first "Harry Potter" film, a full slate of holiday shows and Pops shows featuring the music of Stevie Wonder, Elton John, Frank Sinatra, John Williams, ABBA, the Eagles and Jimmy Buffett. Jazz performances will focus onJohn Coltrane and New Orleans.
To get tickets to Jacksonville Symphony performances, go to jaxsymphony.org.
'The Incredibles'
7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 18, at Artist Walk. Free.
"Honey, where's my super suit?" Watch the 2004 computer-animated classic about a family of superheroes while thousands of cars and trucks pass over your head on I-95. Info: jacksonville.gov
Jax Book Fest
9:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 19, at the Main Library in downtown Jacksonville. Free.
Bestselling author Emma Straub headlines the free book festival (you don't even need a library card to attend). John Patrick Green, who writes bestselling graphic novels, and popular YA author Jennifer Lynn Barnes will also be there, and the fest will also have book signings, seminars, a photo booth, spotlight on local authors, face painting and a robot maze. Info:jaxpubliclibrary.org
Wing Eating and Hot Sauce Challenge
1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19, at Myrtle Avenue Brewing. Free.
Gluttons unite! The inaugural wing-eating contest features smoked wings from Butt-Hutt Smokehouse, and they're not going easy on the hot sauce. Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal, who plays guitar in bands like Guns 'n' Roses and Asia in his spare time, will be there to meet fans and share samples of his eye-watering hot sauces. Info: facebook.com
Ella Langley
7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19, at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena. Sold out.
Speaking of sold-out performances, Langley stops by Jacksonville for the only Florida stop on her Dandelion Tour. She's as hot as a country star can get right now, with her hit "Choosin' Texas" notching something like a billion and a half streams and staying at the top of the charts all summer. Earlier this week, the cheapest resale ticket available was listed at $287.50 for a nosebleed seat; floor seats were going for more than $1,000. Info:jaxevents.com
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Sold-out shows and an 'Incredible' movie this weekend in Jacksonville
