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Thousands flock to Jax Beach for Springing the Blues Festival

Free, 3-day oceanfront event features blues artists on 2 stages

JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. – The 27th annual Springing the Blues Festival this weekend in Jacksonville Beach will feature nearly 40 hours of music by 20 artists on two stages over three days. 

The oceanfront event celebrates America's indigenous musical form and includes more than 25 food vendors and food trucks, an artisan marketplace and a family-friendly kids zone.

Springing the Blues historically attracts about 125,000 fans each year. 

Admission is free, but stage-front seating is available for purchase at will call. 

WHERE:

Seawalk Pavilion
75 N. First St. (Directly behind Jacksonville Beach City Hall)
Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250

WHEN:

Friday, April 7: 5 to 10 p.m.
Saturday, April 8: Noon to 10 p.m.
Sunday, April 9: Noon to 8 p.m.

To view the performance schedule and artist information, visit www.springingtheblues.com.

PHOTOS: Springing the Blues Festival

Road closures, traffic information

Street closings in Jacksonville Beach will be in place over the weekend for the Springing the Blues Festival. For a street map of the area, click here

FRIDAY

Beginning at 7 a.m.:

  • First Street North between Beach Boulevard and Second Avenue North
  • First Avenue North between First and Second streets

Beginning at 5 p.m.:

  • First Avenue North between Second and Third streets
  • Second Street North to Second Avenue North

SATURDAY

Beginning at 7 a.m.:

  • First Street North between Beach Boulevard and Second Avenue North
  • First Avenue North between First and Second streets
  • First Avenue North between Second and Third streets
  • Second Street North to Second Avenue North

SUNDAY

Beginning at 7 a.m.:

  • First Street North between Beach Boulevard and Second Avenue North
  • First Avenue North between First and Second streets
  • First Avenue North between Second and Third streets
  • Second Street North to Second Avenue North

MONDAY

All closed roads will be open at 2 a.m.

The JTA Beaches Trolley is the best way to avoid the search for parking. For more information on the Trolley, including fares and timing, click here.'

Jacksonville Beach businesses bounce back after Hurricane Matthew 

Local business owners said they're happy to be "Springing the Blues" this weekend, especially since Jacksonville Beach's main attraction has not been open for the last six months.

Even though the Jacksonville Beach Pier has been closed since it was damaged in Hurricane Matthew, there was still plenty of fun to be had on the first day of the festival. 

"We've been here for several years and it's been going really good. This is really good for the first day here at the Springing the Blues. We have funnel cakes," Scott Fox told News4Jax Friday. 

Fox has been grilling it up at Mr. Grill for the last few years and he said the Springing the Blues Festival is the one even where he puts his master skills to the test. 

But when Hurricane Matthew swept up Florida's east coast in October, there were no food trucks and jewelry vendors at Jacksonville Beach. During the hurricane, 350 feet of the Jacksonville Beach Pier was washed away in the storm surge and high winds.

WATCH: Sky 4 surveys damage to Jacksonville Beach Pier

Six months later, business is back booming and business owners, like Christian Cznarti, said they're thankful that the area was able to bounce back so that he and many other business owners can share their love of the arts with local families. 

"Of course you're always thinking about you know, problems with the weather and of damage does occur in some places. We always are concerned about ... it impacting the business," Cznarti said. "We come here to make money and it's a good festival."

Fox said there's also a silver lining with the pier's closure.

"(People) can't fish off the pier right now, so more people are eating our food. That's the best part of it," Fox said. 

City officials said the storm damage left the Jacksonville Beach Pier too dangerous for people to walk on, and the repairs are expected to be completed within two years.