The streets of downtown Jacksonville hummed with the sounds of jazz and the chatter of festival-goers as the Jacksonville Jazz Festival stretched into the night with its Jazz Fest After Dark segment. Amidst the melody and merriment, there were concerns regarding the new location of the event. Nonetheless, local businesses saw a spike in activity. According to a statement obtained by Action News Jax , long lines queued up outside restaurants and shops, while business owners like Julia Cordero, manager of The Circuit, enjoyed a palpable increase in sales. "Yesterday was profitable. Let’s see how the rest of this weekend goes because last year was pretty freaking good," said Cordero.

The lively atmosphere was almost put to a halt by the weather, however, as the Jazz Fest faced significant delays due to inclement weather conditions. Organizers were forced to push the opening to 7:30 P.M. and not guaranteed to open then, in an effort to ensure attendees' safety. "This time is also subject to change based on weather conditions. If you are near the venue or in a parking lot, please remain sheltered in place," advised the Jazz Fest organizers according to WOKV . The weather challenges underscored the unpredictable nature of outdoor events and the need for timely communication with the public.

Sunday's activities were also delayed by the tempestuous weather, even though the organizers had reiterated the festival's rain-or-shine policy. Keeping in line with the axiom that the show must go on, there was still acknowledgment that rescheduling or cancellations might be necessary if conditions deteriorated. "The safety of all guests and performers is our top priority," festival organizers maintained. In the case of an evacuation, they encouraged attendees to seek shelter in their vehicles until conditions were safe. Attendees were urged to stay informed through the event's official social media channels for real-time updates, as noted by First Coast News .