JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Despite the cold weather, sunshine filled the Southbank and families gathered at Friendship Fountain on Wednesday to ring in the New Year a little early during Jacksonville’s Noon Year’s Eve celebration.
The family-friendly event, running from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., offered an alternative to late-night fireworks, giving kids and parents a chance to welcome 2026 at noon instead of midnight.
Music played, families danced, bubbles floated through the air, and one activity brought back a sense of nostalgia for many parents when children gathered to play with a large parachute.
One of the biggest attractions was Jessica Johnson’s First Coast Face Paint.
“I love it, just enjoying the community and what the city has to offer. I am seeing a lot of familiar faces. It’s just great, and it’s fun to see the community come together,” Johnson said.
She added that cats and unicorns were among the most requested face-paint designs at the event.
Garrett Callis, the Community Programs manager, told News4JAX reporter Briana Brownlee and photojournalist Jesse Hanson that this inaugural event was designed to be simple, safe, and stress-free, allowing families to enjoy the holiday without staying up late or navigating nighttime crowds.
The highlight of the event came at noon, when families counted down together to mark the start of 2026.