Four Nutcracker productions in and near Jacksonville this December: the Florida Ballet Dec. 12-20, the First Coast Nutcracker Dec. 18-20 and a Dec. 31 matinee.
Last checked Nov. 2, 2026, against the Jacksonville Symphony’s First Coast Nutcracker page, ticket page and holiday concerts page, the Florida Ballet’s Nutcracker page and 2026-27 season, the Florida Theatre and the Deck the Chairs stage schedule. This page is updated each year at the same address.
Yes, the Nutcracker is on in Jacksonville this December, in four productions. The Jacksonville Symphony’s First Coast Nutcracker plays Dec. 18-20 downtown, the Florida Ballet dances its full-length Nutcracker in Orange Park on Dec. 12-13 and at UNF on Dec. 18-20, and a touring company plays the Florida Theatre at 2 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 31. The Florida Ballet also gives a short free-to-watch performance at Deck the Chairs in Jacksonville Beach on Friday, Dec. 4.
At a glance
- Dec. 4: Florida Ballet at Deck the Chairs, Seawalk Pavilion, 6 to 7 p.m.
- Dec. 12-13: Florida Ballet, Thrasher-Horne Center, Orange Park
- Dec. 18-20: First Coast Nutcracker, Moran Theater, downtown
- Dec. 18-20: Florida Ballet, UNF Fine Arts Center
- Dec. 31: Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet, Florida Theatre, 2 p.m.
First Coast Nutcracker, Jacksonville Symphony
The Symphony’s own production runs four full-length performances in the Moran Theater at the Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts downtown. Times from the Symphony’s ticket page:
| Day | Time |
|---|---|
| Friday, Dec. 18 | 8 p.m. |
| Saturday, Dec. 19 | 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. |
| Sunday, Dec. 20 | 2 p.m. |
- Rhonda Stampalia is choreographer and artistic director. The Symphony says the production features guest artists and more than 180 young community dance students.
- School matinees for kindergarten to 12th grade are Dec. 17 and 18 at 10:30 a.m.
- Groups of 10 or more get 20% off; group sales are at 904-807-1003.
- The Symphony’s pages do not list ticket prices. The box office, 904-354-5547, is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays and 90 minutes before each performance.
The same weekend the Symphony plays Handel’s “Messiah” at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 20, its holiday page shows.
The Florida Ballet’s Nutcracker
The Florida Ballet, based at 10131 Atlantic Blvd., dances the full-length Nutcracker at two venues this year. From its Nutcracker page:
- Thrasher-Horne Center, Orange Park: Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 12-13.
- UNF Fine Arts Center, Jacksonville: Friday to Sunday, Dec. 18-20.
The ballet’s pages give the dates but not the curtain times or prices for the full-length shows; both are on its ticket pages for each venue. The company’s phone is 904-353-7518.
Nutcracker in a Nutshell is a 50-minute version the ballet says is designed to introduce children to ballet:
| Day | Venue | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday, Dec. 12 | Thrasher-Horne Center | noon, Act I |
| Friday, Dec. 18 | UNF Fine Arts Center | 10:30 a.m., Act I |
| Saturday, Dec. 19 | UNF Fine Arts Center | noon, Act II |
Free at the beach: Deck the Chairs, Dec. 4
The Deck the Chairs stage schedule lists the Florida Ballet’s “The Nutcracker” from 6 to 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4, at the Seawalk Pavilion, 11 First St. N., Jacksonville Beach, presented by the City of Jacksonville Beach. The organizer lists no admission for the displays and says stage times can change. Parking and the rest of the season are on our Deck the Chairs page.
New Year’s Eve matinee at the Florida Theatre
Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet, a touring production, plays the Florida Theatre, 128 E. Forsyth St., at 2 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 31, with doors at 1 p.m. The theater credits the show to the Florida Theatre and Talmi Entertainment. It is a different production from the Symphony’s and the Florida Ballet’s.
Parking and getting there
- None of the organizers’ Nutcracker pages give parking details. Check the venue named on your ticket before you go.
- Downtown hosts Holiday River Fest on Nov. 28 and a Jaguars home game on Monday, Dec. 14, so check our road construction and closures page before a downtown show.
- More on driving and parking in town is on our getting around page.
What this means for you
- For the shortest show with small children, pick a Nutcracker in a Nutshell performance.
- For live orchestra and a downtown night out, the First Coast Nutcracker plays Dec. 18-20.
- The Dec. 4 performance at the beach costs nothing to watch.
More concerts and shows are on our arts and exhibitions page and holiday lights and Christmas events page.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Nutcracker in Jacksonville in 2026?
The Jacksonville Symphony’s First Coast Nutcracker plays Dec. 18-20 at the Moran Theater; the Florida Ballet dances its Nutcracker Dec. 12-13 at the Thrasher-Horne Center in Orange Park and Dec. 18-20 at the UNF Fine Arts Center; a touring Nutcracker plays the Florida Theatre at 2 p.m. Dec. 31.
What are the First Coast Nutcracker show times?
8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 18; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19; and 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 20, at the Moran Theater in the Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts, according to the Jacksonville Symphony’s ticket page.
Is there a short Nutcracker for young children?
Yes. The Florida Ballet’s 50-minute Nutcracker in a Nutshell plays at noon Saturday, Dec. 12, at the Thrasher-Horne Center, and at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Dec. 18, and noon Saturday, Dec. 19, at the UNF Fine Arts Center.
Is there a free Nutcracker in Jacksonville?
The Deck the Chairs stage schedule lists the Florida Ballet’s The Nutcracker from 6 to 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4, at the Seawalk Pavilion in Jacksonville Beach, an event with no admission listed.
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