Home of the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars, the city of Jacksonville, Florida is the place to be if you want to watch exciting professional football games. Between the bars’ viewing parties, the stadium tailgating, and, of course, some of the family-friendly football options (kids like the sport, too!), there’s plenty going on every Sunday during the season.
Wondering which events you should add to your social schedule? At Beacon Lake, we’re happy to help! Check out our “pro tips” guide to enjoying a fun-filled NFL season!
If you were unable to grab tickets to the game but don’t want to watch it alone in your living room, then a vibrant sports bar is a great option. Our Jacksonville bars tend to have multiple televisions showing the action, so it’ll be loud and lively, but no louder than actually being at the stadium. Between the tasty food, ice cold drinks, and good company, you’ll feel at home at any one of these amazing sports bars:
Oh, the tailgating opportunities that await! What could be better? The Jacksonville Jaguars’ Everbank Stadium has a whopping 16 different official parking lots. All are open around four hours before the game starts for all those enthusiastic fans who wish to tailgate. Although there are some rules designed to keep people safe, such as no weapons, no fireworks, and no open fires (although grills are allowed), there are plenty of ways to have fun with your fellow Jaguar fans.
If you want to tailgate prior to the game, remember to set up in your own parking space, not out in the driving lane, and keep your tents and other set-ups to an eight-foot minimum. Also, remember that tailgating isn’t allowed during the game itself, so be prepared to end the outdoor fun and move inside the stadium at game time. You also need to follow the official Jacksonville Jaguars code of conduct while tailgating, or you might have to leave the fun early. 
Looking for some kid-friendly options for watching the game? While most sports bars are for those fans ages 21 and up, there are some that put an emphasis on family friendliness. For example, Lillian’s Sports Grill on Roosevelt Blvd is the best of both worlds: televisions so that adults can watch the game plus a game room for the younger folk. If you want adult comradery, while keeping the older kids busy, then this is a great option.
There’s also the All-Pro Dad Experience that takes place each June. The Jacksonville Jaguars players put on the event, which allows kids aged four through 12 to attend with their parents and see what it would be like to be a football player for the day. The event takes place at Daily’s Place Flex Field, and the price of admission changes per year.
For kids who want to someday, possibly be on the pro field themselves, there’s the Jacksonville Youth Football League. This league is designed for kids aged three through 14, with appropriate teams made up of kids of similar ages. The play begins with flag football and expands, as the kids get older, into tackle football. No matter what, they’ll end up learning plenty of skills, both on and off the field.
Want some great news? There’s no rule stating that you have to leave the comfort of your own home in order to watch the Jaguars play. You can stay at home and still have a roaring good time, thanks to some creativity and a few family-friendly ideas. All of this is likely more fun if you invite a few friends over, although you can feel free to make it an event for your family only if you wish.
For example, you can recreate NFL stadium food by serving a bunch of hot dogs, complete with a delicious array of condiments. You can serve French fries straight from your air fryer in a paper cup, stadium-style, and use plastic trays to serve nachos.
If you’re worried about your kids getting bored during the game, then come up with a few things to keep them busy. NFL themed coloring books are a popular option, as are outdoor nerf football throwing contests. If you wanted to, you could even host your own Puppy Bowl during halftime, assuming that you have pet dogs or your kids own stuffed ones who want to participate.
As you can see, there’s no shortage of fun to be had at home during an exciting Jaguars NFL game.
At Beacon Lake, we are both pro-fun and pro-football! So, you may not ever want to leave your neighborhood in order to enjoy an NFL game. If this is the case, then consider attending one of our community events at Beacon Lake. Our community includes a beautiful clubhouse complete with an array of luxurious amenities. You can host a game day gathering or attend one that your neighbors have chosen to put on. Additionally, there are also Beacon Lake-hosted events that are open to all residents in the community.
Even better, once the final score is posted, you can head out to grab some sunshine at the pool or any of our other amenities in order to keep the party going. Consider gathering around the fire pit or on the sandy beach near our lakeside park. Want to work off some of the food you just devoured? No problem! There’s no shortage of things to do here at Beacon Lake, especially during football season.
