Photo: @jessieannimages
Author: Gracie Phillips, Downtown Vision Marketing and Events Intern
Safe and Fun Downtown Jacksonville Date Night Ideas
As we enter month five of social-distancing, life continues to feel anything but normal. Although life is so different right now, it’s still just as important to take the time to cultivate your relationship with your significant other. Can’t think of any ideas for a date night? We went ahead and compiled a list for you! Below is a list of events both in-person (with safety precautions) and virtual, so that you and your loved one have plenty of options for your next date. Don’t worry, you don’t need e a boo to take part in these activities – bring along a friend or your family instead!
Happy Hour at Bellwether
Wednesday – Friday 4-7 p.m.
Enjoy specialty cocktails and light bites at Bellwether. Like its sister restaurants Orsay and Black Sheep , Bellwether reflects chef and owner Jon Insetta’s focus on exceptional flavors, while spotlighting the culinary creativity of chef Kerri Rogers.
Take a Trip to Sweet Pete’s
Visit the sweetest destination on earth with your boo! Sweet Pete’s is candy heaven and will be the sweetest date you’ve ever been on. They decorate for every season, so it is bound to be a magical experience and a great photo-op. Explore two floors of candy and ice cream made in-house and take a candy-making class.
Manifest Distiller for a Day August 24th, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
You and your significant other can be distillers for a day at Manifest Distilling.
Here’s what Manifest Distilling is saying about the event: Have you ever wanted to operate a 500-gallon hybrid pot still? Does filling a barrel of whiskey sound like a dream come true? This extremely limited, in-depth educational event will span an entire day, giving participants a hands-on opportunity to experience and partake in every stage of whiskey production, including, but not limited to: mashing, fermentation, distillation, barrel-aging, and bottling. Join our 2nd annual Distiller for a Day class, earn your diploma, some cool swag, and see if you have what it takes to be a whiskey distiller!
Cocktails and Dinner at Dos Gatos
Dos Gatos is serving up delicious food and drinks daily with safety at the heart of their operations. Masks and temp check required in order to create a safe and enjoyable environment! Stop in Monday-Friday from 5-9 p.m. and Saturday from 6-10 p.m. Make it part of your date night at home or enjoy being out in public safely.
Dinner & Drinks To-Go from Cowford Chophouse
Nothing says romantic evening quite like an evening at Cowford Chophouse. Dine-in and eat a lovely meal with #DTJax in the background, or bring the flavors of Cowford Chophouse to your home! They are now offering delivery through Uber Eats and GrubHub. There’s nothing like setting up a thoughtful meal for you and your loved one.
Socially-Distanced Family Movie at 121 Financial Ballpark
The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp have turned their baseball field into a socially-distanced movie theater for families who miss going to the movies! Concessions are being sold, so grab your popcorn and enjoy watching a movie on the big screen.
Jacoby Symphony Hall Live Stream Fridays at 8 p.m.
Bring the symphony to your home by tuning in on Fridays at 8 p.m. for a performance like no other! The pandemic doesn’t have to stop you from having great music to accompany your date. Pour a glass of wine and prepare a charcuterie board and bond with your significant other over the sounds of the Symphony for a night neither of you will forget.
Dinner on the Deck with a view of the St. Johns River at River City Brewing Company
Take your sweetheart to the perfect spot for sunset watching and dolphin spotting! Enjoy a cool breeze and the twinkling lights of the Downtown skyline as you eat a handcrafted dinner with impeccable craft cocktails. Got some little ones? River City Brewing is family friendly.
Cocktails To-Go from The Volstead
Nothing says date night quite like some delicious hand-crafted cocktails from The Volstead! Did you know that they offer their drinks to-go?! Cook some dinner at home and accompany your meal with your favorite Volstead cocktails.
Sunset Cruise with St. Johns River Taxi
Enjoy gorgeous views, dolphin sightings and the joy of being in nature after being cooped up at home for far too long. Social distancing and safety precautions are in place to make this the perfect date night experience.
Sunset Garden Picnic at the Cummer Museum
On select Thursday and Saturday evenings this summer, you are invited to wind down and decompress as you relish in the beauty of the historic Cummer Gardens. Guests will enjoy live music from some of Jacksonville’s favorite performers, al fresco dining with a picnic from the Cummer Cafe and access to seating throughout the Museum’s 1.45 acre property.