JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The debut of the Community First Saturday event in downtown attracted large groups Saturday.
Attendees participated in family-friendly activities like fitness classes, bike tours and eco-tours on the St. Johns River.
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The Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce and Community First Credit Union created the event in a joint effort to enrich community involvement in downtown.
The new downtown activity will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the first Saturday of each month through June along the downtown Riverwalk.
Mayor Alvin Brown said he hopes to see Community First Saturdays build the urban core of the River City.
"I'm going to try to do yoga," Brown said. "I'm going to do whatever it is. I'll do yoga, pushups, sit-ups. I'm going to be right out here."
Most of the activities at Community First Saturdays are free.
Food vendors, including some of Jacksonville's popular food trucks and local restaurants, offer a variety of cuisine.
The Finish Line Bar plans to serve craft beer and wine with café seating along the river.
The development of Community First Saturdays was spearheaded by Tony Allegretti, the JAX Chamber's director of downtown engagement, a position created to engage members in Downtown activities.
"Developing Downtown Jacksonville is essential for the Jacksonville region's future success and a top priority for the Chamber," said Wally Lee, president of the JAX Chamber. "We are thrilled with the progress Tony has made and look forward to even more good things to come in Downtown."
For more information about Community First Saturdays, visit the event's Facebook and Twitter pages.