JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said it is aware of a large “car meetup afterparty” planned to be held on Saturday evening in Downtown Jacksonville.
A social media post promoting what it calls the “biggest car meetup afterparty” in Duval County is drawing attention ahead of this weekend in downtown Jacksonville, with some residents and business owners watching closely for potential traffic and safety concerns.
The flyer says the event will be held on Saturday from 10 p.m. until late at 331 E. Bay Street in Downtown.
The post, circulating on Instagram, advertises a late-night gathering on East Bay Street, an area lined with bars and small businesses. The image used in the promotion appears to be A.I.-generated and depicts cars racing, a detail that some people who saw it said raised questions about what the event could bring to the area.
“It looks like it’s gonna be a big live event — a lot of cars, a lot of people,” said Jay Wiley, who reviewed the post downtown with Justice Evans.
When asked whether it raised safety concerns, the pair said they worry less about the crowd itself and more about what could happen if tensions escalate.
“When they show up and start to break things up, start chasing cars, that’s what makes it worse,” they said.
JSO said if the event is held, it will monitor it. The agency also said that planning for these events is continuous, based on the factors presented prior to and during the event.
“We will take enforcement action when violations of municipal ordinance or state statute are reported and/or observed – whether civil, traffic, or criminal related," a spokesperson said.
Dallas Brown, who identified himself as one of the promoters behind the post, told News4JAX the image is being misinterpreted and that the gathering is intended to be a stationary car show — not street racing.
“So there would be no street racing at all. It’s just basically parked cars…show your ride,” Brown said.
He also said organizers do not expect violence and claimed they have already spoken with law enforcement about the event.
Street racing and reckless driving remain illegal in Florida, and law enforcement has emphasized that drivers can face penalties that may include arrest, fines and license suspensions, with potential felony charges for repeat offenders.
Officials said if nearby residents or businesses are concerned about issues in real-time, call 911 or the non-emergency number 904-630-0500.
News4JAX has reached out to the City of Jacksonville to determine whether any special events permit has been issued for the gathering and is awaiting a response.