New Year's Eve 2026 near Ponte Vedra Beach: a kids' countdown at the library, Deck the Chairs to Jan. 1, Jacksonville's midnight fireworks and the fireworks law.

Last checked Nov. 7, 2026. This page is updated each year at the same address. Sources: the library calendar, Jacksonville Beach Deck the Chairs, the City of Jacksonville’s events office, St. Johns County and Florida Statutes section 791.08.

New Year’s Eve is Thursday, Dec. 31, 2026. Ponte Vedra Beach has no public fireworks show or city countdown of its own; as of Nov. 7, no venue in town had announced a 2026 New Year’s Eve event. Here is what is set so far, nearby options, and what is closed. We will add restaurant and venue plans only as each one announces them.

New Year’s at a glance

  • Tuesday, Dec. 29: Kids New Year’s Eve Celebration, Ponte Vedra Beach Branch Library
  • Thursday, Dec. 31: libraries close at 6 p.m.; fireworks legal under state law
  • Midnight: City of Jacksonville fireworks over the St. Johns River, downtown
  • Friday, Jan. 1: no trash pickup; libraries closed; last day of Deck the Chairs
  • Tuesday, Jan. 5: St. Johns County schools resume

For kids: an early countdown

The Ponte Vedra Beach Branch Library, 101 Library Blvd., holds a free Kids New Year’s Eve Celebration from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 29, with arts and crafts, according to the library’s listing.

Lights through New Year’s Day

Deck the Chairs, the decorated lifeguard chairs and free holiday programs run by the Students in the Arts Alliance at the Seawalk Pavilion and Latham Plaza in Jacksonville Beach, about two miles north, stays up through Jan. 1, 2027, its website says. For other displays, see holiday lights and Christmas events.

Fireworks

The nearest established public show is the City of Jacksonville’s New Year’s Eve fireworks, which start exactly at midnight over the St. Johns River downtown. For the 2025 show, the city launched from a barge just east of the Main Street Bridge and from Lot S at the Shipyards, the display lasted about 12 minutes, and roads near Riverfront Plaza and on Main Street closed about 15 minutes before it began, according to the city’s events office. The city had not posted 2026 details as of Oct. 10.

Fireworks at home: Florida law, section 791.08, allows fireworks on New Year’s Eve, Dec. 31, and New Year’s Day, Jan. 1. A homeowners association board may not make rules that take away that right, but a ban written into a community’s recorded covenants still applies. Fireworks are illegal on St. Johns County beaches, the county says, to protect nesting sea turtles; see our Fourth of July fireworks page for the full rules.

Dinner and parties

Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort & Spa lists “New Year’s celebrations” among its holiday plans but had not posted details as of Oct. 10; check its holiday page. For venues that host music year-round, see live music and nightlife and date night.

What is open and closed

  • Libraries: close at 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 31, closed Friday, Jan. 1, reopen Saturday, Jan. 2. Book drops stay open.
  • Trash, recycling and yard waste: no collection on New Year’s Day, the county’s garbage collection page says. Check your adjusted day in the Recycle Coach app or call 904-827-6980.
  • Transfer stations: closed New Year’s Day.
  • Schools: winter break runs through Jan. 1; Jan. 4 is a teacher planning day, and students return Tuesday, Jan. 5, according to the district calendar.

What this means for you

  • Keep fireworks off the beach; set them off at home only if your covenants allow it.
  • Plan on a long drive and road closures if you head downtown for the midnight fireworks.
  • Hold your trash until your next pickup day after Jan. 1.

Frequently asked questions

Are there New Year’s Eve fireworks in Ponte Vedra Beach?

No public show in Ponte Vedra Beach has been announced for 2026. The nearest established show is the City of Jacksonville’s midnight fireworks over the St. Johns River downtown.

Can I set off fireworks on New Year’s Eve in Florida?

Yes. Florida law, section 791.08, allows fireworks on Dec. 31 and Jan. 1. St. Johns County bans fireworks on its beaches to protect nesting sea turtles.

Is trash picked up on New Year’s Day in St. Johns County?

No. St. Johns County makes no garbage, recycling or yard waste collections on New Year’s Day, and the transfer stations are closed.

Is there a kids’ New Year’s Eve event in Ponte Vedra Beach?

Yes. The Ponte Vedra Beach Branch Library holds a Kids New Year’s Eve Celebration from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2026.