The best arts & culture spots in St. Marys

Whether you're a history nerd or just submarine-curious, St Marys Submarine Museum Inc delivers two floors of jam-packed exhibits, a real Type 2 periscope with waterfront views, and archival gems like WWII patrol reports. It’s the largest of its kind in the South, which locals can brag about.

From the St. Marys newsletter, October 5, 2026

Art Amelia showcases exquisite work from Fernandina and Amelia Island artists, the kind that makes you consider rearranging your living room. Better yet, their classes and community canvas sessions let you jump in, meet neighbors, and get paint under your fingernails in the best way.

From the Nassau County newsletter, September 14, 2026

Florida Music Academy helps Nassau locals turn musical “one day” into “today,” with private and group lessons for all ages in Fernandina Beach and Yulee. Pick up drums, piano, guitar, bass, ukulele, or voice, then flex those new chops at your next porch hang.

From the Nassau County newsletter, September 29, 2026

Spend an afternoon by the St. Johns revisiting old Florida as Mandarin Museum and Historical Society weaves Mandarin’s story through the Maple Leaf shipwreck, St. Joseph’s Mission Schoolhouse, and exhibits spotlighting local artists...

From the Jacksonville newsletter, October 3, 2026

From an immersive Russian Submarine Encounter in the Combat Information Center to the rumbling Mount 52 Experience that recreates a Vietnam War mission, USS Orleck Naval Museum turns a 1945 Gearing-class destroyer into a living story. Add it to your downtown loop this week.

From the Jacksonville newsletter, August 11, 2026

Looking to actually enjoy the dance floor without the two-left-feet panic? At Gia Viseli DanceSport, lessons are tailored to how you learn, with adaptable private sessions and small group classes in Salsa, Bachata, Mambo and more, so Nassau County locals can look confident, move better, and have fun doing it.

From the Nassau County newsletter, September 11, 2026

Blue Door Artists is a collective of 13 working artists on Amelia Island with nine studios you can wander, chat up the artists, and find everything from jewelry and weaving to abstracts and locally inspired pieces. Pro tip for locals, hit their Second Saturday open-house studio tours.

From the Nassau County newsletter, September 5, 2026

Swap doomscrolling for a little music-making. Amelia Music Studio blends truly personalized lessons with lively group classes, growing theory and performance chops while teaching music as a legit coping skill that builds confidence, a neighborly reset for this week.

From the Nassau County newsletter, October 7, 2026

From a foreboding Christie thriller to the Amelia Island Dance Festival, a sock-hop-meets-opera fundraiser, and a Young Choreographers Performance, Amelia Community Theatre - Studio 209 keeps the calendar packed.

From the Nassau County newsletter, September 4, 2026

When you want a break from streaming, Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts lines up dance, touring Broadway, stand-up, and the Jax Symphony inside a modern three-theater setup, so you can go big or keep it cozy and still catch something genuinely worth talking about by Monday.

From the Jacksonville newsletter, October 7, 2026

Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens brings together more than 5,000 works and serene, historic riverfront gardens along the St. Johns, perfect for a midweek reset. Swing by this week to wander the galleries, spark some ideas, then linger in the gardens you keep meaning to revisit.

From the Jacksonville newsletter, October 14, 2026

L. Lewis Museum at American Beach tells the story of the seaside haven created in 1935 for African Americans, featuring MaVynee “The Beach Lady,” her fight to protect the beach and its environment, and community memories that still resonate. It’s a thoughtful stop when you want substance with your sea breeze.

From the Nassau County newsletter, October 17, 2026

Whether your living room needs a vibe refresh or the exterior's fighting the Florida sun, Hall's Quality Painting Co Inc brings seasoned crews, systematic checklists, and family-run accountability to interior and exterior jobs, residential or commercial.

From the Nassau County newsletter, October 20, 2026

Whether you’re already spotting teeth or still squinting at shells, Fernandina Fossils & Co. is part museum, part coach, with exhibits of Amelia Island finds, guided eco-tours for shark teeth and pectens, on-the-spot fossil ID, and a gift shop that buys and sells local treasures.

From the Nassau County newsletter, September 23, 2026

Whether your kid is twirling into their very first plié or you’re polishing advanced technique, Bean School of Dance has been Fernandina Beach’s family-owned, woman-led home for dance since 1954. Registration is open now and classes kick off August 17, so snag a spot and make some memories.

From the Nassau County newsletter, October 4, 2026

Agatha Christie’s classic mystery about ten strangers on a remote island is stalking the stage at Amelia Community Theatre - Main Stage now through August 29, 2026. Perfect excuse for a Nassau County date night or friend hang, because guessing the killer together is half the fun.

From the Nassau County newsletter, October 24, 2026

Skip another scroll session and pop into Amelia Makery for a chill, coastal vibe where you can walk in, paint pottery, or craft glass art with shells and crushed glass that gets epoxy-sealed. Perfect for a low-stress afternoon with friends or a birthday-worthy creative spark this week.

From the Nassau County newsletter, August 30, 2026

Amelia Art Studio runs small-group classes in drawing, painting, ceramics, and mixed media for kids, teens, and adults, plus private lessons. Expect real skill-building with arts integration and art history, and even chances to show your work around town, which is pretty cool.

From the Nassau County newsletter, September 12, 2026

Plantation Artists' Guild and Gallery spotlights work from a talented group of local Amelia Island artists, with fresh exhibits, opening night parties, and hands-on demos that make art feel neighborly. Swing by this week to find a new favorite piece or just soak up some inspo close to home.

From the Nassau County newsletter, October 13, 2026

Whether you want to wander The American Century or dive into Outside Looking In, MOCA (Museum of Contemporary Art), Jacksonville is stacked with timely exhibitions, curator talks, indie film nights, and hands-on classes that actually make you feel creative again, not just scroll and forget.

From the Jacksonville newsletter, October 21, 2026

Scroll or stop by Carol Winner Art this week to explore original paintings from a hometown artist, browse sold pieces for inspo, and dip into Carol’s blog for the stories behind the work. Quick way to give your space some Nassau County soul without overthinking the gallery thing.

From the Nassau County newsletter, August 29, 2026

Amelia Musical Playhouse is where Nassau County’s talent actually gets a spotlight, staging musicals, plays and revues all year with an all-volunteer crew. Expect kid-friendly shows, auditions for locals, and the kind of neighbor-powered energy where you might recognize half the cast before the curtain even rises.

From the Nassau County newsletter, September 13, 2026

Jacksonville's "Hands On" Children's Museum turns Saturday energy into actual learning with a pint-size grocery store, castle and other tactile exhibits kids can climb, stock, and imagine in. It’s a local 501(c)3 that also does field trips and birthday parties, so it feels good to support while they play.

From the Jacksonville newsletter, September 30, 2026

If your kiddo twirls through the living room or you’ve been meaning to un-retire your jazz shoes, Royal Amelia Dance Academy keeps Nassau families moving with dance, drama, acrobatics, and music lessons, supportive teachers, state-of-the-art floors, and performance chances, with studios on Amelia Island and in…

From the Nassau County newsletter, August 31, 2026