Looking for fun events in Jacksonville this weekend? Try these.

Tom Szaroleta, Florida Times-Union
·2 min read
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The holiday season is in full swing this weekend in the Jacksonville area, and there's plenty to do if you are in a Christmas kind of mood. If not, there's a circus opening in St. Augustine and Trick Daddy is celebrating 25 years in the business with a big concert at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena.

Jacksonville Symphony

The First Coast Nutcracker returns to downtown Jacksonville this weekend.
The First Coast Nutcracker returns to downtown Jacksonville this weekend.

The Jacksonville Symphony has a busy weekend ahead, with four performances of the First Coast Nutcracker and two shows of Handel’s “Messiah.” It’s the 50th anniversary for First Coast Nutcracker, which will be conducted by Kevin Fitzgerald at 8 p.m. Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday in the Moran Theater ($29-$64.) Courtney Lewis conducts the symphony and the Jacksonville Symphony Chorus in “Messiah” at 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday in the Jacoby Symphony Hall ($27-$81).

Venardos Circus

The Venardos Circus is at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre through Jan. 1.
The Venardos Circus is at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre through Jan. 1.

The large red-and-white tent going up at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre can only mean one thing: The Venardos Circus is back. The traveling circus has an old-school feel, with jugglers, clowns, acrobats and aerialists, but no animals. It opens Friday and stays for 29 90-minute shows through Jan. 1. 7 p.m. Friday; 1:30, 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday; 1 and 4 p.m. Sunday. $27-$47.

Trans-Siberian Orchestra

Trans-Siberian Orchestra will bring its bounty of lasers, lights, pyro and orchestral rock to Jacksonville on Friday.
Trans-Siberian Orchestra will bring its bounty of lasers, lights, pyro and orchestral rock to Jacksonville on Friday.

If you like your holiday music loud with lots of lasers and explosions, the Trans-Siberian Orchestra is the show for you. The veteran band, which only tours during the holiday season, is at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena at 7:30 p.m. Friday. $49.50-$79.50.

Debbie Gibson

What does a teen idol do when her teen years are a distant memory? A holiday tour, of course. Debbie Gibson, who topped the charts at age 16 and spent the subsequent years performing on Broadway, putting out grown-up albums and appearing in cheesy SyFy movies, brings her Winterlicious Tour to the WJCT Soundstage at 8 p.m. Saturday. $69-$89.

Trick Daddy

Trick Daddy brings his 25th anniversary tour to Jacksonville in December.
Trick Daddy brings his 25th anniversary tour to Jacksonville in December.

It's been a quarter-century since Trick Daddy burst on the scene with his debut album, “Based on a True Story.” He’s celebrating with a big tour and bringing Trina, Jeezy and Plies to make it a party. The tour stops at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena at 7 p.m. Saturday. $59-$119.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Fun things to do this weekend in Jacksonville, Florida