Metro Jacksonville

Jacksonville by Neighborhood => Urban Neighborhoods => Riverside/Avondale => Topic started by: 02roadking on December 19, 2011, 11:30:33 AM

Title: Avondale-Riverside Luminary
Post by: 02roadking on December 19, 2011, 11:30:33 AM
I decided to check out the festivities by bicycle last night. I never have gone to it in all the years I have been here.
  Well, it was one of the most fascinating things I have ever seen. People everywhere, walking, cycling, driving. For a pretty large area of neighbors & churches to come together, and put something together, like what I saw last night, nothing short of spectacular. I must commend you folks for putting together such a wonderful event. I just wish I had my camera with me.
Title: Re: Avondale-Riverside Luminary
Post by: JeffreyS on December 19, 2011, 11:34:08 AM
It is a great event. Family commitments forced me to miss it for the first time in seven or eight years but it is a tradition I intend to regularly attend.
Title: Re: Avondale-Riverside Luminary
Post by: Dog Walker on December 19, 2011, 11:38:09 AM
I hope you got to see Riverside Park with its' newly cleaned up pond.  The pond was circled with lights and so were the sidewalks all the way around the park.  Really spectacular!

Luminaria is a great event for bringing the district together and is an important fund raiser for RAP.  Hundreds of hours of volunteer time go into making it a success every year.

Thanks, neighbors!
Title: Re: Avondale-Riverside Luminary
Post by: comncense on December 19, 2011, 11:46:25 AM
Is this a one-night thing? I'd love to go out and take pics if it's still going on.
Title: Re: Avondale-Riverside Luminary
Post by: riverside planner on December 19, 2011, 11:49:44 AM
Yep, just one night a year - the Sunday before Christmas.  It's always a good time and St. Johns Avenue becomes a parking lot with an unofficial parade of sorts. Great community event!
Title: Re: Avondale-Riverside Luminary
Post by: Dog Walker on December 19, 2011, 11:50:10 AM
Sorry, one night each year on the Sunday before Christmas.  Keeps it special and magical.

Oops!  Didn't mean to post on top of you, Riverside.
Title: Re: Avondale-Riverside Luminary
Post by: CG7 on December 19, 2011, 12:29:50 PM
After years of driving to the Luminaria, last night was the first time I was able to put the bags in front of my Avondale house and be apart of the show. I swear I was almost giddy, I've never said Merry Christmas co many times in my life. AWESOME!
Title: Re: Avondale-Riverside Luminary
Post by: Jumpinjack on December 19, 2011, 12:43:38 PM
Riverside Park looked magical. What a change from a year ago. Way to go RAP and volunteers. You make our neighborhood great.
Title: Re: Avondale-Riverside Luminary
Post by: Lucasjj on December 19, 2011, 01:02:59 PM
I have seen the luminaries for several years but this was thefirst year I putthem out for my own house since I was out of town last year. I think viewing by bike is the way to go. I actually went out and bought a bike yesterday to replace my stolen one just to be able to do it that way.

It is one of those events each year that really makes it feel like Christmas.
Title: Re: Avondale-Riverside Luminary
Post by: mtraininjax on December 19, 2011, 02:13:58 PM
Telfair Stockton would have been proud!
Title: Re: Avondale-Riverside Luminary
Post by: jaxlore on December 19, 2011, 02:27:50 PM
Unfortunately I missed it as well, really enjoyed it last year.