Jacksonville Veterans Day Parade 2026: Route, Best Viewing Spots, Road Closures, Plus Free Fair Day and Deals

Jacksonville's Veterans Day Parade steps off at 11:01 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11, in downtown Jacksonville. The city calls it the largest Veterans Day observance in Florida, with more than 2,500 participants every year.

The 1.32-mile route runs from the Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts along Bay Street to VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena. Road closures start as early as 7 a.m. Here's where to watch, where to park and how veterans can celebrate around town.

Why 11:01 a.m.

The parade starts at 11:01, right after 11 a.m. on the 11th day of the 11th month. That's the hour the fighting stopped in World War I in 1918. The armistice is why Veterans Day falls on Nov. 11 every year.

The parade route

The parade covers 1.32 miles:

1. It starts on Water Street, in front of the Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts, and heads east to Hogan Street.
2. It turns left onto Hogan Street.
3. It turns right onto Bay Street and heads east.
4. After passing Lot S, it moves to the westbound lanes of Bay Street.
5. It turns left onto A. Philip Randolph Boulevard.
6. It ends at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena.

Where to watch

• Best stretch: Bay Street between Hogan Street and A. Philip Randolph Boulevard
• Popular central spot: Ford on Bay, near South Liberty Street and East Bay Street, according to the city
• Arrive early. Viewing areas are first-come, first-served.
• Wear red, white and blue. The city encourages it.

Road closures

Full closures starting at 7 a.m.:

• Park Street
• Lee Street
• Water Street

Full closures starting at 10 a.m.:

• Main Street
• Riverside Avenue
• The Acosta Bridge
• Newnan Street
• Forsyth Street
• Monroe Street
• Marsh Street
• Lafayette Street
• A. Philip Randolph Boulevard
• Gator Bowl Boulevard

Rolling closures move with the parade at intersections along the route. The city says closure and reopening times can change based on public safety needs.

Driving into downtown that morning? With the Acosta Bridge closed starting at 10 a.m., plan to cross the river on the Main Street, Fuller Warren or Hart bridge instead.

Parking

Street parking is bagged starting Tuesday, Nov. 10, along the route:

• Water Street between Park and Hogan streets
• Hogan Street between Water and Bay streets
• Bay Street between Hogan Street and A. Philip Randolph Boulevard
• A. Philip Randolph Boulevard between Bay and Duval streets

Those spaces won't be available. Plan to use a downtown garage or lot away from the route, and walk in.

Free day at the Jacksonville Fair

The Jacksonville Fair is running on Veterans Day, and it's celebrating veterans:

• Free gate admission on Wednesday, Nov. 11, for active-duty, retired and veteran military
• A $20 ride pass, a $45 value
• Gates open at noon at 13601 Normandy Blvd.

That evening's concert at the fairgrounds' Jax Amphitheater is Jake Owen, with Dirt Road Ghost. Concert tickets are sold separately.

Bowling for veterans

The city's events calendar also lists The Veterans Roll Up Bowlathon at 11 a.m. on Nov. 11 at Batt Family Fun Center.

Free meals and deals for veterans

Many national restaurant chains with Jacksonville locations offer free meals or discounts to veterans and active-duty service members on Veterans Day. Most offers are dine-in only and require proof of service, such as a military ID, a VA card, a DD-214 or a photo in uniform. Check with your local restaurant before you go, since participation can vary.

Confirmed for 2026:

- Chili's: a free meal from a limited Veterans Day menu on Nov. 11, dine-in only.

Offered last year (watch for 2026 announcements):

• Applebee's: free entrée from a special menu, dine-in
• Olive Garden: free entrée from a set menu, dine-in
• Golden Corral: free dinner
• Denny's: free Build Your Own Grand Slam breakfast
• IHOP: free Red, White & Blue Pancakes or a pancake combo, dine-in
• Red Robin: free Big Tavern Burger with bottomless steak fries, dine-in
• Dave & Buster's: free entrée up to $20, plus a $10 game card
• Buffalo Wild Wings: free 10 boneless wings and fries
• Cracker Barrel: free slice of Double Fudge Coca-Cola Cake with a meal
• Little Caesars: free lunch combo at select locations
• Starbucks: free tall hot or iced coffee for veterans, service members and military spouses

We'll update this list as restaurants confirm their 2026 offers. Local businesses offering a Veterans Day deal can tell us at [email protected].

What's closed on Veterans Day

• Schools: Duval County Public Schools and St. Johns County schools are closed Wednesday, Nov. 11.
• Federal offices and post offices are closed, because Veterans Day is a federal holiday. There's no regular mail delivery.
• Banks: many banks close for the holiday. Check with yours.
• Other offices: check with your local government office for its hours.

A military town

Northeast Florida is home to Naval Air Station Jacksonville and Naval Station Mayport, so many Jax Times readers are veterans, active-duty sailors and Marines, or military families. VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena, where the parade ends, is named for the region's veterans.

Veterans Day vs. Memorial Day

The two holidays are easy to mix up:

• Veterans Day (Nov. 11) honors everyone who has served in the U.S. armed forces, living or dead. It's a day to thank the veterans you know.
• Memorial Day (the last Monday in May) honors service members who died while serving.

So on Nov. 11, a simple "thank you for your service" to a living veteran is exactly the point.

How Nov. 11 became Veterans Day

• Nov. 11, 1918: an armistice ends the fighting in World War I at 11 a.m.
• 1919: President Woodrow Wilson proclaims the first Armistice Day.
• 1938: Congress makes Armistice Day a legal federal holiday.
• 1954: after World War II and the Korean War, Congress renames it Veterans Day to honor veterans of all wars.
• 1970s: the holiday briefly moved to a Monday in October, then returned to Nov. 11 for good in 1978.

That's why Veterans Day falls midweek this year, on a Wednesday, instead of on a Monday like many federal holidays.

For veterans who need support

If you or a veteran you love is struggling, help is available 24/7 through the Veterans Crisis Line: dial 988, then press 1, or text 838255.

Quick answers

What time is the Jacksonville Veterans Day Parade?
11:01 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026.

Where does it start and end?
It starts on Water Street at the Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts and ends at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena.

Where's the best place to watch?
Along Bay Street between Hogan Street and A. Philip Randolph Boulevard. The city points to Ford on Bay as a popular central spot.

Is the Acosta Bridge closed?
Yes. It's one of the streets closed starting at 10 a.m.

Are schools open on Veterans Day?
No. Both Duval and St. Johns County schools are closed Nov. 11.

Thank a veteran

Know a Northeast Florida veteran whose story should be told? Email [email protected]. We'd like to feature local veterans in an upcoming story.

The parade and the fair's Veterans Day are on our free Community Events calendar.