Get ready for a summer filled with activities when you visit Clay County this June. From a day on the water to a tasty food festival, amateur sports competitions – open to everyone – you are going to want to clear your schedule to take part in all of the excitement.
Here’s a look at what you can expect during your time in Clay County this June!
Join the College Drive community for a night out at the College Drive Food Truck Night on June 24 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Held at St. Johns River State College, bring a lawn chair or a blanket and enjoy dinner from one of the many local food trucks, live music, local vendors and games for all ages.
The Clay County Watermelon Festival makes its way back to the Clay County Fairgrounds on June 25. Along with ice, cold watermelon – families can also enjoy live entertainment, arts and crafts vendors, pony rides, a cutest baby contest, a petting farm and wacky watermelon games. Be sure to sign up for the watermelon eating contest and the watermelon seed spitting contest. While you’re there, be sure to sample the watermelon fudge too!
Get an early start to the holiday festivities at Orange Park Mall’s Freedom Fest on Saturday, June 25. This annual event features a variety of local food trucks, beer/wine, veteran-owned businesses and crafters, a kids zone and a silent auction benefitting St. Michael’s Soldiers. The Navy Band Southeast’s popular music group, “Pride” is set to perform followed by local favorite Cumberland and country music duo Crawford & Power. A fireworks finale ends the day’s festivities. Admission is free to this outdoor festival, Veterans may also enjoy time at the Veteran’s Lounge. Gates will open at 4:00 p.m. and show time begins at 4:30 pm. Outside food and drink will not be permitted in the event area. Parking policies will remain consistent with daily mall operations.
Food Truck Friday returns to Spring Park in Green Cove Springs featuring live music and local eats from around Northeast Florida. Held the second Friday of each month March to November from 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., bring a blanket or a lawn chair, make new friends and enjoy the views overlooking the St. Johns River.
Pick up a souvenir or shop for the week’s groceries at the Orange Park Farmer’s Market held the first and third Sunday of each month at Orange Park Town Hall. With over 100 vendors featured each week, visitors can find homegrown items like fresh produce and honey, along with arts and crafts, live music and plenty of options for a bite to eat too.
The Sunshine State Games, presented by Amazon return to Clay County this June with amateurs competing in a variety of sports events around the country. As part of the Florida Sports Foundation, the featured games hosted in Clay County include a disc golf tournament along with a pickleball tournament at Ronnie Van Zant Memorial Park throughout the weekend of June 10-12 and a baton twirling competition at Orange Park High School on June 11. Other competitions include canoe/kayak sprints at the Middleburg Main Street Boat Ramp on June 11, along with a canoe/kayak marathon on June 12. A mixed division ultimate Frisbee tournament takes place at Plantation Sports Complex on June 11-12. Registration is open to any amateurs within the state. For competition and registration information, please visit www.sunshinestategames.com.
Enjoy a night out with live music at the Thrasher-Horne Center for the Arts on the campus of St. Johns River State College when LeAnn Rimes comes to town June 23rd. Her tour, “The Story… So Far” celebrates her 25th music anniversary and forthcoming album, God’s Work. This performance is a new, more personal and intimate walk through her musical journey thus far. To learn more about exciting events this summer, visit the Clay County calendar of events and visit www.ExploreClay.com.
