Riverside Arts Market
4.7(5.0K)google
4.6(271)yelp
ConcertDowntownLocal Life
Overview
The Riverside Arts Market is a vibrant weekly community celebration taking place every Saturday beneath the canopy of the Fuller Warren Bridge in Jacksonville. Gathering hundreds of local artists, fine craftsmen, organic farmers, and passionate food vendors, this lively riverside market showcases the absolute best of local creative culture. Visitors can sample artisanal treats, purchase unique hand-made jewelry, and enjoy live musical performances at the riverfront amphitheater overlooking the St. Johns River. It provides a colorful, highly energetic experience that allows travelers to mingle with local residents, sample regional flavors, and discover unique souvenirs while enjoying fresh river breezes.
Practical Info
Suggested Duration1.5-3 hours
Best TimeThis market only opens on Saturdays from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Arriving around 10:30 AM is ideal, as all local artisans and farmers are fully set up, allowing you to grab local baked goods and coffee while enjoying live music at the riverfront amphitheater stage.
Getting ThereLocated directly under the canopy of the Fuller Warren Bridge at 715 Riverside Ave. Free parking is explicitly provided at the adjacent Wells Fargo corporate parking garage, or you can walk/bike along the Riverside Riverwalk straight to the entrance.
Travel Tips
- Verify your travel calendar as this market operates exclusively on Saturdays from 10:00 to 15:00, reversioned back to an empty concrete underpass during weekdays.
- Divert routing directly to the nearby paid Fidelity parking garage after 10:30, as all free street-level parking slots surrounding the bridge are entirely saturated early.
Photo Tips
Gear
- Anchor all photography tripods securely to combat aggressive wind-tunnel gusts channeled underneath the Fuller Warren Bridge structure despite the benefit of sun shade.
Reviews
Positive
- Located right under the massive bridge, the market is perfectly shielded from the harsh Florida sun, letting you enjoy the river breeze and local art culture comfortably.
- Every Saturday features an incredible variety of local artisans, farmers, bakers, and food trucks, accompanied by live music on the riverfront stage, making it a must-visit.
- It is an incredibly dog-friendly open-air market where vendors are warm and welcoming, often providing water bowls and treat samples for visitors' furry best friends.
- Admission is entirely free, and the prices for local street food, fresh produce, and unique handmade crafts are reasonable, providing a great way to support the local community.
Heads up
- The biggest issue here is definitely parking! It gets packed on Saturdays, making nearby free spots near impossible to find, and searching for parking can take over 30 minutes.
- During peak hours between 11 AM and 1 PM, the rows become heavily congested with shoulder-to-shoulder crowds, and food trucks have long wait times, which can be stressful with kids.
- There are only temporary portable restrooms on site which are sub-par, and there's a severe lack of proper public seating, forcing tired visitors to sit on concrete curbs.
- Some visitors noted that as it commercializes, a few vendors selling cheap mass-produced wholesale items have appeared, diluting the uniqueness of pure local handmade art.