Annual Arts and Crafts sale

The annual Arts and Crafts Holiday Sale will be held in the Penney Retirement Community beginning Friday.  It will be held at State Road 16 and County Road 218. You can choose from gifts, baked goods, art pieces and more. Follow the signs from State Road 16 and parking is free. Hours from Friday for the arts and crafts sale are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon.

 San Marco Art Festival

You can support the arts and local community this weekend at the San Marco Art Festival. More than 100 artists will transform historic San Marco into an outdoor art gallery. The festival will be held Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and it is free to the public. For more information, go to www.artfestival.com.

“CFA Soiree”

Get ready for everything from boogie to best-selling urban author at Jacksonville University’s College of Fine Arts “CFA Soiree.” It will be held on Friday at the Museum at 160 Boulevard Center Drive. The event will showcase a display of arts with a special guest. The attire for this event is “urban chic.” There will be live music as well. Proceeds from this event will be directed toward projects to enhance student learning. For more information, go to www.cfasoiree.ju.edu.

Budweiser Clydesdale Visits Fernandina Beach

 The Palace Saloon will play host to the Budweiser Clydesdale on Friday. They will arrive at 3 p.m. and make their way down Centre Street to park in front of the Palace until 5 p.m. You can have your picture taken with the famous horses .

New Art Exhibit

Reddi-Arts will host a show featuring the work of Marianne Phopahl, Cookie Davis, Andrea and Helen Ashmead.   Phopal will present “Blossoms and Dance”, a collection of photographs during the exhibit. Davis is currently exploring the use of acrylic paints on large canvas. Andrea Ashmead is an award-wining photographer who is currently using paint as her medium of choice. Helen Ashmead is an artist, and teacher. There will be an opening of their work Friday night at the Reddi-Arts on Hendricks Avenue beginning at 6 p.m. Their work will be on display through December 31st.

Spaghetti Dinner fundraiser

You can help the Kids’ Foundation for Uniting Nations with a fundraiser on Friday. The Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser and Silent Auction will be held at the Isle of Faith United Methodist church on San Pablo Road. It will begin at 5 p.m. The menu includes salad, bread, spaghetti with meatballs and desert. The cost is $8 adults, children 4 to 12 $6 (3 and under are free). This organization works together towards position change for children.

Saturday:

Native Sun Mandarin Run

Lace up your shows for the Native Sun Mandarin Run on Saturday. The 5k will begin at 7:50 a.m., the 10K begins at 8 a.m., the 1k walk for seniors and children will begin at 9:30 a.m. at Mandarin Presbyterian Church on Mandarin Road. The course will begin at the church and follow a large loop around Mandarin.  To register for the race, go to www.1stplacesports.com.

Animal Signs

Join a park ranger at the Fort George Island Cultural State Park on Saturday. There will be a presentation and guided hike through the different ecosystems so you can learn more about critters. The event begins at 2 p.m. at the Ribualt Club on Fort George Island. No reservations are necessary and it is free.

 St. Johns River Blues Festival

Listen to some blues this weekend in Palatka. Organizers say this year’s festival will feature the area’s best blues band in a competition for fame and local interest. The festival will take place in downtown Palatka. Vendors will be on hand from 3rd Street to 8th Street. There will be two main stages: one at the courthouse and another in the Prosperity Bank parking lot. For a list of performers and headliners, go to www.stjohnsriverbluesfestival.com. This festival is free to the public.

"The Color Purple"