About

Deck The Chairs (DTC) was founded in 2013 to serve the Beaches community by providing a free, six-week holiday event promoting art in public space and creating opportunity for children’s arts education and outreach.

Today we manage a nationally celebrated holiday experience averaging more than 100,000 visitors. After a year of planning and development, community volunteers spend two months in public park space helping decorate, manage event space, support concessions, and oversee stage programs.

DTC impacts lives in a positive lasting manner and the reinvestment toward children’s arts and arts education is priceless.

See Our Impact

Community Pride

Deck The Chairs is a showcases an active and engaged community. Partnerships including the City of Jax Beach, area civic groups, small business and non profits are a testament to diverse support guaranteeing our community led holiday display captures hearts and minds year after year.

Organizations including The Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville, Beaches Go Green, K9s for Warriors, Fur Sisters, Tim Tebow Foundation, Down Syndrome Association, The Boys And Girls Club of NE Florida, and the Volunteer Life Saving Corps utilize JBDTC for outreach and education — sharing their stories to a receptive audience of more than 100,000 visitors.

As DTC grows we work harder to bring more schools and arts programs into the scope of exhibiting and performing. We also work to grow our base of student volunteers providing important community service hours for college bound young adults.

Finally, regional and national exposure would not mean much to DTC organizers without receiving a local vote of praise. In a 2020 CoJB Parks & Recreation Survey residents voted DTC as their Favorite Jax Beach Annual Event Experience.

Arts Outreach

Deck The Chairs works year-round with schools, business and art programs to promote the unique aspects of the DTC design/build creative process. Outreach includes the Tiny Chairs Contest, Deck Your Chair Challenge, and Chair Decorating Workshops. In addition, several months are spent developing JBDTC Event Programming that showcases children’s art, dance and theatre.

Most importantly, during the 6-week DTC event, organizers host free public programs for more than 18 area dance and music groups. Every weekend and on high traffic holiday dates, the Seawalk Pavilion Stage is a buzz of activity with shows produced by school band and choral directors as well as a variety of children’s dance troupes.

The quality of programs continues to attract larger audiences and more interest as the legacy of performing at DTC creates lasting memories positively impacting our next generation. DTC is honored to have the trust and confidence of parents and teachers as we work with our community volunteers to help children’s arts shine.

Economic Impact

Since 2013, the Beaches area has seen a significant increase in visitors who come to experience Jax Beach Deck The Chairs (JBDTC) during the holiday season. Jacksonville Beach has received millions of positive views across a variety of social sites and the growing crowds of annual visitors to the Beaches has provided important new revenue to the city business sector.