Florida Theatre was built in 1927 and is the only remaining of four such high-style movie theatres of the 1920s in Florida. The theatre now hosts over 200 events every year, from ballets to opera to local charity events and graduation ceremonies and is part of the National Register of Historic Places in the US.

Sun Ray Cinema - Built in 1927, this was the first theatre in Florida to show talking pictures. After a $4.5 million restoration in 2004, a building was added around the theatre for private events and retail space, but keeping the Renaissance-style and historic marquee in tact. Film festivals, such as the Jacksonville Film Festival, have been held here since 2010.

Ritz Theatre - This Art Deco style theatre was built in 1929 and seats just over 400 people and is used for movies, dance, and music productions. It is in the neighborhood of LaVilla and saw the spirited culture here during the 1920s-1970s that led to this area being nicknamed the "Harlem of the South." Though it fell into disrepair, the River City Renaissance plan gave the theatre a $4 million renovation in 1999 and added the LaVilla Museum to the building.

Times-Union Center for Performing Arts was opened in 1997 and houses 3 different theatres: the Robert E. Jacoby Symphony Hall seats 1,800 for non-amplified events and is the home for the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra, the Jim and Jan Moran Theater seating 3,000 for amplified concerts, and the C. Herman and Mary Virginia Terry Theater which seats 600 guests.

Alhambra Dinner Theatre is the oldest operating dinner theatre in the US and was built in 1967. The 1970s saw many former film, music and TV stars perform and the theatre still hosts live performances such as Cindy Williams from Laverne and Shirley and the annual classic A Christmas Carole.

Jacksonville Jazz Festival is one of the biggest jazz fests in the US. Held over a weekend, there are dozens of performances on multiple stages in town. Two events, Art in the Heart and Wine Down Tasting Experience start off the festival. After the concerts finish for the night, several local clubs continue performances well into the night. Notable artists who have performed here over the years include Miles Davis, Harry Connick Jr., and Kenny G.

World of Nations Celebration - This is North Florida's largest multicultural event and has been held every May since 1993 at the Metropolitan Park. Participating countries vary from year to year, but each country has at least one representative who speaks the language and often native music, dances, and food as well. There is a naturalization ceremony for people to become citizens, a Parade of Flags, and the first few days are reserved only for field trips which make up a considerate amount of the roughly 75,000 visitors.