Northeast Florida Week Ahead, Nov. 9-15: Veterans Day Free Entry, 2 Icemen Home Games, a Library Opening and Playoff Football

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The week of Nov. 9-15 in Northeast Florida runs from Monday government meetings to a Sunday that packs a Jaguars road game and a Sporting JAX home match into one afternoon. In between are Veterans Day on Wednesday, a new library and community center opening in Hastings on Friday, two Jacksonville Icemen home games and the start of the Florida high school football playoffs. This outlook sticks to dates and times published by the organizations running each event, and it flags anything that was not available.

Unlike a weekend guide, this calendar covers the whole week, including government meetings and closures that affect daily plans. Times are Eastern. Where a source did not list a time, this guide says so instead of guessing.

The week at a glance

Monday and Tuesday: local government

The Nassau County Commission meets Monday, Nov. 9, and Jacksonville City Council meets Tuesday, Nov. 10. Each government posts its own agenda and start time, and this guide did not confirm either, so check the county and city websites before you go. Residents who want to speak at a meeting should look at the posted rules for sign-up, because each body handles public comment differently.

Wednesday, Nov. 11: Veterans Day

The City of St. Augustine says its offices are closed Wednesday, Nov. 11, for Veterans Day. Solid waste collection stays on its regular schedule, and city-owned lots and on-street parking are free, with exceptions for the Castillo de San Marcos lot and the Historic Downtown Parking Facility. Active-duty and retired military with a valid ID get the garage entry fee waived.

The National Park Service lists Nov. 11 as a free entrance day at Castillo de San Marcos National Monument for U.S. citizens and residents. The normal fee is $15 for visitors 16 and older, and children 15 and under are free, according to the park's fees page. The park is cashless and accepts only credit and debit cards.

In Jacksonville, the city's Veterans Day Parade is scheduled to step off at 11:01 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 11, in the downtown area, with road closures beginning earlier in the day. This detail comes from the city's earlier event information and was not re-confirmed for this guide. Check the City of Jacksonville's special events page for the current route and closures before heading out.

Thursday: a Nassau board meeting

Imagine Nassau's board of directors meets Thursday, Nov. 12, from noon to 1 p.m. in the Commission Chambers at the James S. Page Governmental Complex, 96135 Nassau Place in Yulee. The notice, posted by Nassau County on Nov. 2, says the meeting covers business matters for Imagine Nassau. The public is invited to attend.

Friday, Nov. 13: three things at once

St. Johns County says the new Hastings Community Center and Library holds its grand opening Friday, Nov. 13, according to a county release dated Oct. 30. The release did not list a ceremony time in the information available for this guide. Check the county's website at sjcfl.us for the schedule.

The Jacksonville Icemen host the Greenville Swamp Rabbits at 7 p.m. at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena, according to the team's schedule. The game is listed as the team's Pucks & Paws and Teacher Appreciation night. It is the first of two straight home games that weekend.

Florida's high school football playoffs also begin Nov. 13, when the FHSAA plays its quarterfinal round for Classes 1A through 6A. The association lists the semifinals Nov. 20, the regional finals Nov. 27 and the state semifinals Dec. 4. Game sites are noted on the playoff bracket at fhsaa.com, so fans should check it for their team's location and kickoff.

Saturday, Nov. 14: Icemen again

The Icemen host the Savannah Ghost Pirates at 7 p.m. at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena, according to the team's schedule. The night is listed as Lunas vs. Sirens, Women in Sports and Teacher Appreciation. No Icemen games are listed for Nov. 9-12 or Nov. 15-16.

Sunday, Nov. 15: football, soccer and the fair

The Jaguars play at the Tennessee Titans at 1 p.m. at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, according to the team's schedule, with the game on FOX30. Sporting JAX hosts DC Power FC at 5 p.m. at Hodges Stadium, according to the club's schedule. Because the two starts are four hours apart, fans can watch the Jaguars game and still make the soccer match.

The Jacksonville Fair runs Nov. 5-15 at 13601 Normandy Blvd., which makes Sunday its final day. The fair's website mentions national acts at the JAX Amphitheater but did not list a lineup or admission prices on the page reviewed. Check jacksonvillefair.com for gate times and prices before you go.

Looking ahead

St. Augustine's Light-Up! Night, the official start of Nights of Lights, is Saturday, Nov. 21, with the lighting ceremony at 6:30 p.m. in the Plaza de la Constitución, according to the city. The city also says its STAR Circulator changes its downtown evening service during Nights of Lights, with downtown night service ending at 3 p.m. daily from Nov. 21 through Jan. 18, 2027. Riders should check the city's STAR page for the Anastasia Island evening route.

How to use this calendar

Dates and times can change, especially for sports and for government meetings. Confirm with the organizer before you travel. If a source did not list a time, this guide says so rather than guessing.