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Beach Living 904

WHAT’S HAPPENING AT THE BEACHES?

Volume 6 | November 13–15, 2026

Hey, Beaches friends! 🌴

What happens when the Beaches shows up and shows off? You get a holiday block party full of local finds, a surf festival buzzing with visitors from all over, and neighbors ready to make the season brighter for families right here at home.

That’s the spirit of this issue: get out, discover something local, and bring someone along. Pick a weekend adventure, rally your favorite people, and let’s see how many Thanksgiving baskets our community can fill. 🧺

A big thanks to this week’s sponsor, Oliviah Leigh Photo. 📸

Oliviah Leigh Photo banner: weddings, lifestyle and branding photography in Jacksonville, with five sample photos of rings, a bride getting ready, a couple under a veil and two portraits

Weddings, lifestyle and branding photography in Jacksonville. Oliviah Leigh documents every milestone in life. 📸

Mary Hartley, founder of Beach Living 904, smiling on the beach at sunrise

THIS WEEK’S WAVE MAKER

What happens when you set out to build one business, only to discover your community needs something entirely different?

The story behind Beach Living 904—and the purpose that started it all.

Local stories and highlights

Holiday shopping, with a neighborhood feel 🎁

The Annual Holiday Open House and Block Party at Cottage by the Sea was more than a chance to get into the holiday spirit—it was a reminder of how much local talent we have right here at the Beaches. The shops were full of artists and one-of-a-kind finds, and yes, it was a pretty great place to get a start on Christmas shopping.

Holiday Open House and Block Party at Cottage by the Sea: a couple posing among holiday décor inside the shop, and four smiling women behind the counter at Ashes Boutique and Tea Room

A warm thank-you to Cottage by the Sea, Luna Mortgage, Gregory Paul’s, Ashes Boutique and Tea Room, and Art Garage for bringing everyone together.

The Beaches showed up for Super Girl 🏄‍♀️

Surf, sunshine, and a whole lot of hometown pride: the Super Girl Pro Surf Festival brought vendors from California, Charleston, South Florida, and beyond. Our community showed up and showed off, and local businesses helped make guests feel at home.

Super Girl Pro Surf Festival: a vendor with pink hair waving from her booth, and spectators on the sand watching the surfers by the Jacksonville Beach Pier

Way to go, Beaches businesses! 🌊

📍 WHERE ARE WE?

Can you guess this Beaches hot spot?

A one-of-a-kind picnic table, a round tabletop and two curved benches made to look like tree branches, under shady oaks in a Neptune Beach park

Take a good look. 👀

A shady little Neptune Beach spot invites you to pause, sit a spell, and enjoy a quieter side of the neighborhood. This week’s clue: look for a one-of-a-kind picnic table.

Can you name the park?

Don’t scroll to the bottom yet… the answer is waiting for you there!

🌴 THIS WEEKEND AT THE BEACHES

November 13–15

YOUR WEEKEND STARTS HERE

⭐ Four Beach Living Picks

Your weekend lineup is here. Pick one, pick all four, and make a little room for something new. 🌴

🎈 FRIDAY • FAMILY & FUN

🎬 Movies With the Mayor: Free Birds

Friday, November 13 • 6:00 PM

📍 Jarboe Park, 526 Florida Blvd. • Neptune Beach • Free

Bring a blanket or lawn chairs and settle in for an outdoor movie night. The film starts shortly after 6 p.m.

🛍️ SATURDAY • SHOPPING

🛍️ Oh What Fun Holiday Sip & Shop

Saturday, November 14 • 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

📍 Echo at the Beach, 434 3rd St. N. • Jacksonville Beach • Free

Ready to browse for holiday gifts? Head to Echo at the Beach for a festive sip-and-shop.

🎨 SATURDAY • MUSIC & ARTS

🕯️ Beachin’ Through the Holidays: Tote Bag Painting + Candle Making

Saturday, November 14 • 2:00 PM

📍 Wick N Twisted, 320 9th Ave. N. • Jacksonville Beach • $60

Make a coastal holiday tote, pour a festive candle, and leave with a little handmade holiday cheer.

🎨 FRIDAY–SUNDAY • MUSIC & ARTS

🎤 First Coast Comedy Festival

Friday, November 13 – Sunday, November 15 • Showtimes vary

📍 First Coast Comedy, 2292 Mayport Rd. #35 • Jacksonville • $25

Stand-up, improv, and sketch bring comedians from around Florida and beyond to the Beaches. Check the schedule for showtimes and age details.

That’s just a taste! There’s lots more happening around the Beaches this weekend, from the Ponte Vedra Friday Farmers Market and the Holiday Shoppes at First Coast Cultural Center to a wine dinner at Bella Vista A Mare and a Cajun dinner with live music at American Legion Post 316. Check the website for even more great things to do.

More Ways to Enjoy the Weekend—and Give Back 💚

Let’s fill Thanksgiving baskets together 🧺

Here’s a way to turn a get-together into something generous. Invite your family, friends, coworkers, Mah Jong group, or church crew to build Thanksgiving baskets for local families. Make it a group project, spread the word, and let’s see if the Beaches can gather more baskets than there are families waiting.

BEAM and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul-Beaches are collecting baskets Nov. 16–18, 8:30–11 a.m. and 4–5:30 p.m. Drop them at St. Paul’s Father Murphy Hall, 628 1st Ave. N., Jacksonville Beach; use the 7th Street North parking lot entrance. BEAM’s suggested basket serves a family of five. Please pack items in a reusable grocery bag and skip perishables.

🗺️ THE “WHERE ARE WE?” REVEAL

The Howard C. Basil Park sign: Welcome to Beautiful Howard C. Basil Park. This land was donated by the family of Lawrence and Ida Lippman.

It’s Howard C. Basil Park, a small pocket park on Fifth Street.

Named in memory of former Neptune Beach police chief Howard C. Basil Jr., it has a personal connection to another local family, too: the park sign recognizes the Lawrence and Ida Lippman family for donating the land. A lovely reminder that even a small green space can hold a piece of the community’s story.

Did you guess it?

KEEP DISCOVERING 🌊

Follow Beach Living 904 on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok for the Daily Wave—your weekday heads-up on what’s happening around the Beaches. And if you know someone who’d love a local weekend guide, share Beach Living 904 with your family and friends. 📲

🌴 SEE YOU NEXT THURSDAY!

Thanks for reading, sharing, and supporting the local places that make our Beaches special.

I hope you discover somewhere new, meet a neighbor, or find a new favorite spot this weekend.

Have fun out there—and as always, shop local, dine local, and support local!

— Mary

Beach Living Media | Beach Living 904