Fall in Florida is unlike anywhere else in the country. It brings cooler temperatures, but cooler is really a relative term. Instead of enjoying 60 degree weather like those in the Midwest, Florida may enjoy highs in the mid to low 80’s with lows in the high 60’s and low 70’s at night. The payoff is later in the fall when the air is crisp across the rest of the country, Florida enjoys weather in the high 60’s and it’s as close to perfect as it can be.
Fall also marks the beginning of another time-honored tradition in Northeast Florida…football. Floridians are wild about football and Northeast Florida is in the unique position of perpetuating more than just one major rivalry. There are alumni from the nearby University of Florida as well as Georgia to the north and Florida State to the west. This healthy mixture of proud graduates makes for some fun, albeit sometimes intense, rivalries between friends. The season reaches its climax, locally in the form of the annual Florida/Georgia game, or what has become known as The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party. Jacksonville is also host to one of 32 NFL teams, the Jaguars. Of course Northeast Florida is also passionate about its high school football and the Friday night lights shine bright at several schools in Jacksonville that have cultivated highly competitive programs over the years that churn out top-quality talent each year.
Florida offers more fall events than anywhere else! Ok, so we have the leading theme park city in the world to thank for that (Orlando), but there are many other local activities in Northeast Florida to enjoy too. If you’re looking for fall or Halloween themed events to go to, we have a few suggestions.
• The Amazing Grace Crop Maze in Green Cove Springs features HUGE crop mazes each year as well as a new barnyard ball zone, corn crib, corn hole, a cow train, duck races, a hay ride, playground, mini hay bale maze, pumpkin patch, iFarm experience, rat rollers, and plenty of fall photo ops.
• Spooktacular at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens is a kid-friendly event that features Charlie Brown and the Great Pumpkin Patch, Wizard of Oz in Range of the Jaguar, The Lands of Far Far Away, Peter Pan’s Neverland, DJs spinning kid-friendly Halloween music, The Great Lawn with bounce houses and a giant inflatable slide, special spooktacular food menus in each of the zoo’s two restaurants, thousands of jack o’lanterns, select animal exhibits including giraffes, bobcats, alligators and jaguars, candy stations throughout the zoo, and more!
• Sweet Pete’s is offering a “Smashing Pumpkins Class” Each guest will enjoy a tempering demonstration and make a three dimensional chocolate jack o’lantern. Guests will choose from Sweet Pete’s signature candies to fill the jack o’lanterns. Smash the pumpkins at home to enjoy the chocolates and the treats! Price includes one scoop of ice cream.
• Numerous local churches, schools, and farms also offer fun and unique fall activities for kids and the young at heart. This is perfect if you’re just in the mood for getting your child a pumpkin from the pumpkin patch or providing your home with some fall decor like hay bales, pumpkins, and gourds of all shapes and sizes.
So whether you’re just in the mood for something different or are looking to stave off the chilly fall air that is more prevalent in the rest of the country, give Northeast Florida a shot. We’re the family-friendly place that has something for everyone. For more information about Northeast Florida and our Lennar homes please visit us at Lennar.com.
