Monday, Sept. 1, 2025
It’s nearly autumn, and the city of Fernandina Beach Parks & Recreation Department plans to celebrate with Fall Fest from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20, at the Atlantic Recreation Center, 2500 Atlantic Ave.
There will be a floating pumpkin patch, so bring a towel and swimsuit. Games, prizes and activities are free for all ages. Meet members of the police and fire departments, ocean rescue and the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office, and children may participate in the touch-a-truck event.
There are new hours for the Atlantic and Martin Luther King Jr. pools. Sign up for group swim lessons, lap swim, water exercise or aqua aerobics. Don’t forget there’s a kiddie pool at the Atlantic Recreation Center.
The city offers the following recreational activities:
NEWS AND EVENTS
Fall Fest at the Atlantic Recreation Center — 2500 Atlantic Ave., Saturday, Sept. 20, noon-4 p.m. Join us for Fall Fest at the Atlantic Recreation Center! The event will feature a floating pumpkin patch — don’t forget to bring a towel and swimsuit if you want to participate! Enjoy games, prizes and activities that are free for all ages. Meet and interact with local heroes from the Police Department, Fire Department, Ocean Rescue and Nassau County Sheriff’s Office, including a hands-on opportunity to touch a truck. Come out for a day of fun, community and festive fall activities for everyone!
SPORTS
OPEN ADULT PING PONG at the Atlantic Center Tuesdays from 9 a.m.-noon and Thursdays from 4:30-7 p.m. in the Atlantic Center Auditorium. All skill levels welcomed. Open recreation format: official ping pong serving and scoring rules shall be followed. Loaner paddles and ping pong balls provided. For more information, call/text Don Hughes (904) 415-0667 or Richard Stratton (904) 321-2239.
OPEN ADULT COED VOLLEYBALL at Peck Gym Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7-9 p.m. Informal team games on two courts. Teams selected each night. Ages 16 and older (ages 16 and 17 must have parental consent form signed by parents and notarized before participating). $3/night city resident, $5 non-city.
OPEN BASKETBALL at Peck Gym Monday-Friday 11 a.m.-7 p.m. (court closes for school and club practices as well as adult leagues throughout the year, see Peck attendant or call (904) 310-3354 for more details). People younger than 16 must be accompanied by adults 18 or older. Photo identification must be presented to enter Peck Gym.
PICKLEBALL LEAGUES: Leagues will start Sept. 16 and 18 at 5:15 p.m. We will be offering 3.0 Mixed Doubles, 3.5 Mixed Doubles and a 3.0-3.5 Women’s League. Our 3.0 Mixed Doubles will play Tuesdays starting at 5:15 p.m. and the 3.5 Mixed Doubles playing right after starting at 7 p.m. The 3.0-3.5 Women’s League will play Thursdays starting at 5:15 p.m.
PICKLEBALL at Central Park Pickleball Courts. Six lighted courts are available. For more information, including scheduled play and open play times, view the following link from the city of Fernandina Beach.
CENTRAL PARK TENNIS COURTS Four lighted hard courts are available for open play. Courts 1 and 2 (closest to South 13th Street) reserved for instructed play during posted hours.
ROD GIBSON TENNIS SERVICES at Central Park Tennis Courts 1 and 2 Available instructed programs:
Private lessons: Lessons with head professional $60 per hour city residents, $70 non-city; $30/30 minutes city residents, $35 non-city. Lessons with professional staff $50/hour city residents, $60 non-city; $25/30 minutes city residents, $30 non-city.
Semi-private lessons: Lessons with head professional plus two players: $35/hour city residents, $40 non-city. Lessons with professional staff plus two players: $30/hour city residents, $35 non-city.
Group lessons: Lessons with head professional plus three players: $24/hour city residents, $27 non-city; plus four players: $18/hour city residents, $20/hour non-city; plus five players: $14/hour city residents, $16 non-city; plus six or more players: $12/hour city residents, $14 non-city. Lessons with staff professional plus three players: $20/hour city residents, $24 non-city; plus four players: $15/hour city residents, $18 non-city; plus five players: $12/hour city residents, $15 non-city; plus six or more players: $10/hour city residents, $12 non-city.
To register for junior or adult clinics or private, semi-private or group lessons, email instructor Rod Gibson, USPTA Certified Elite Tennis Professional, at rodgibsontennis@gmail.com or call (904) 891-6927. Twenty-four hours’ cancellation required for adult clinics and private, semi-private and group instruction. Schedule and description of clinics available at the Atlantic Center or on the city’s website: www.fbfl.us.
OPEN ROLLER HOCKEY at the Main Beach Multi-Purpose Court
Adult/Older Teens skate: Tuesdays from 5-6 p.m. (Beginner) and Saturdays from 4:15-4:45 p.m. (Easy) and 4:45-6 p.m. (Advanced)
Family skate: Tuesdays from 4-5 p.m. and Saturdays from 3-4 p.m. For more information, call Ray Matz at (215) 852-7038
FITNESS AREAS
Weight Room/Cardio Area at Peck Gym, 510 South 10th St. Free weights, selectorized equipment, Matrix treadmills, Precor elliptical, Cybex Arc Trainer, Matrix recumbent and upright bikes, and Kettler rower. Ages 13 and older (ages 13-15 with adult supervision; ages 16-17 unsupervised but with waiver signed by parent or guardian). Open Monday-Friday from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. (later hours on Tuesday and Thursday during evening court sports activities)
Atlantic Fitness Room at the Atlantic Center, 2500 Atlantic Ave. Precor treadmills and ellipticals; Precor recumbent and upright bikes; Concept 2 rower; Nautilus StairMaster Stepmill; Hammer Strength plate loaded fitness equipment; Magnum Fitness Biangular Series machines; and free weights. Ages 13 and older (ages 13-15 with adult supervision; ages 16-17 unsupervised but with waiver signed by parent or guardian). Fall hours: Monday-Friday from 5:30 a.m.-9 p.m. (5-9 p.m. for membership holders only), Saturday from 5:30 a.m.-4 p.m.; and Sunday from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. (membership holders only on Sunday).
Text FBGym to 91896 for updates on fitness hours sent directly to your phone.
Daily/monthly fitness area fees: City residents — $5/day; $30/month; $90/four months. Non-city residents: $10/day; $38/month; $113/four months. Daily fees and passes are valid at both fitness areas.
Couples’ rates are also available. Fitness/Pool combination passes are also available for use of Atlantic Fitness Room and Atlantic Pool. Information available at the Atlantic Center.
Personal training is available at the Atlantic Fitness Room with Melissa Taylor, certified through International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA). Single one-hour session, 3-pack (three one-hour sessions) and 10-pack (10 one-hour sessions) packages available. Contact Melissa (flexfitnessllc1@gmail.com; (904) 430-7171) to set up a consultation.
Text FBGym to 91896 to have updates on gym hours sent right to your phone.
AQUATICS
Fall group swim lessons: Six-week session Aug. 30-Oct. 4. Every Saturday at the MLK Pool at 9 and 9:30 a.m. Manatee and Sea Turtle levels. Manatee (beginner) ages 3 years and older, goals are breath control, assisted kicking and assisted floating. Sea Turtle (advanced beginner) ages 3 years and older, goals are floating unassisted, transitioning from back to front floats unassisted, and jumping in and swim to side unassisted. Free for city residents, $96 for non-city residents. For more information, call (904) 310-3350 or email lgomez@fbfl.city. Pre-registration is required.
Atlantic Pool schedule Sept. 2-30, 2025: Monday-Friday lap swim and water exercise from 5:30-8:30 a.m.; aqua aerobics from 9-11 a.m.; closed from 11 a.m.-noon; noon-3 p.m.: lap swim, water exercise (six lanes), Kiddie Splash Pad. 3-5 p.m.: Monday, Wednesday Friday — open swim, Kiddie Splash Pad (three lap lanes), lap swim, water exercise three lanes; Tuesday and Thursdays — 3-5 p.m. lap swim and water exercise (three lanes), open swim (three lanes) and kiddie pool; Tuesday and Thursdays 4-5 p.m. — Aqua Aerobics (two lanes), Lap Swim (one lane) Open swim (two lanes) and kiddie pool. Saturdays — 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Open Swim and Kiddie pool; Sundays: 9 a.m.-2 p.m. lap swim/water exercise (two lanes), open swim and kiddie pool.
Martin Luther King Jr. Pool schedule Aug. 8-31: Saturdays 11 a.m.-5 p.m. open swim and kiddie pool, and up to three lap lanes.
AQUA AEROBICS at Atlantic Pool, 2500 Atlantic Ave. Full pool; no separate shallow and deep-water classes. Monday-Friday at 9 a.m. and 10 a.m.; Tuesday and Thursdays at 4 p.m., Saturdays at 9 a.m.
MLK Pool 1200 Elm St. Full pool; no separate shallow and deep-water classes. Tuesday and Thursdays 4 p.m. classes.
Monthly, one class/day: $60 city residents, $75 non-city residents. $7/day for one class City residents, $10 non-city. 10-admissions’ pass: $60 city residents, $75 non-city for one class/day.
Aqua Aerobics/Fitness combination passes available (includes use of Atlantic Fitness Room). Inquire at Atlantic Center.
Text FBPool to 91896 to have pool updates sent directly to your phone.
BEACH WHEELCHAIRS can be reserved at the Atlantic Center. Four wheelchairs available. Call (904) 310-3350 for availability.
INSTRUCTED PROGRAMS
JAPANESE JU JITSU AND KENJUTSU at the Peck Center, 1st Floor Instructors’ Studio, 516 South 10th Street
Ju Jitsu involves striking, kicking, throwing and submission through joint locks and finishing techniques. Kenjutsu involves use of the katana (sword) and bokken (wooden sword). Both classes ages 12 and older. Ju Jitsu is offered Tuesdays from 7:30-8:30 p.m. and Thursdays from 6:30-7:30 p.m.: $8/class or $60/month City residents; $10/class or $75/month non-city. Kenjutsu offered Tuesdays from 6:30-7:30 p.m.: $8/class or $30/month City residents; $10/class or $36/month non-city. For more information and to register, contact Sensei Jeff Weisfeld: (443) 864-3331; ameliaislandbushido@gmail.com.
BOOTCAMP CLASSES at Main Beach. Take part in instructor Charity Ross’s Bootcamp at Main Beach (some classes at Egans Creek Park — late fall and winter months). These outdoor workouts will challenge your aerobic and anaerobic capacities and core strength with sprint drills, plyometric exercises and conditioning circuits. $150/month per participant.
Weekly class schedule: Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6-7 a.m., 7-8 a.m. and 5:30-6:30 p.m.; Saturdays from 7-8 a.m. (three classes per week recommended). Contact Charity via Facebook (Ross Fitness); Instagram (@charityrosspt); or call Charity with questions: (904) 729-7965.
YOGA at the Atlantic Recreation Center Instructors Studio. Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10 a.m. Please bring a mat and wear comfortable clothes. $20 per person per class. For more information, contact instructor Lynn Aiello (aster353@msn.com; (856) 904-7160).
AERIAL SILK DANCE CLASSES at the Atlantic Center. Ages 9 and older. Students learn movement, flow and poses using the two strands of fabric wrapped around the body in various ways while suspended in the air to create Aerial Dance. Beginning, intermediate and advanced skills are taught along with whole body stretching and strength conditioning. Students start by learning the basics and safely master skills to progress in levels while working at their own pace. One hour per class. Schedule: Monday-Thursday from 3-8 p.m. on the Atlantic auditorium stage; and Tuesday only from 3-6 p.m. in the Atlantic Instructors Studio. $180 per month for eight classes over four weeks; $90 per month for four classes over four weeks. Contact instructor Marah Lovequist at (904) 556-6957 for available tuition and schedule options.
HIP HOP ABS ADULT COED EXERCISE CLASSES at the MLK Jr. Center Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at the MLK Jr. Center auditorium. Ages 18 and older. Free. Contact John Coverdell for more information, jcoverdell@fbfl.org or (904) 310-3351.
