In the heart of Jacksonville Beach, the 11th annual Deck The Chairs event, a festive celebration of creativity and community, concluded with a flourish of awards recognizing the exceptional talents of local students, businesses, and nonprofits. Despite challenges posed by weather conditions, the 2023 holiday display contest drew record attendance, showcasing the enduring spirit and artistic flair of the Jacksonville Beach community.
Celebrating Creativity and Community Engagement
This year’s event featured over 58 lifeguard chairs, each uniquely adorned by local entities, reflecting a blend of artistry and local pride. Notably, 18 of these chairs were masterfully decorated by art programs from local middle and high schools, a testament to the budding talent within the community.
Honoring Artistic Excellence
Kurtis Loftus, the founder and executive director of Deck The Chairs, expressed immense pride in the participation of hundreds of students and teachers. The theme “Unite With Lights” was wholeheartedly embraced, resulting in displays that were not only visually stunning but also rich in storytelling and symbolic of unity.
Recognizing the Winners
The awards, a highlight of the event, were divided into several categories. Among them were four student awards, celebrating the creativity of the young artists:
- Judges Award Beaches Display: Fletcher High School
- Crowd Favorite Beaches Display: First Coast Military Homeschoolers
- Judges Award JWJP Display: Bolles School
- Crowd Favorite JWJP Display: AMI Kids Jacksonville
The visitor-voted Jacksonville Beach Deck The Chairs Awards recognized the following displays over three weekends:
- Best of Show Beaches Display: Publix
- Founder’s Chair: Expert Glassworks
- Blue Chair: American Legion Post 129
- Yellow Chair: Saint Paul’s Catholic School
- Red Chair: City of Jacksonville Beach
Honorable mentions included Angel’s Construction, Jacksonville Country Day School, Fleet Landing, Margaritaville, and the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Dismantling the Displays
As the event wrapped up, organizers noted that dismantling the student displays at James Weldon Johnson Park would take approximately three days, while the removal of the displays at Jacksonville Beach is expected to take about a week. The process began on Monday, marking the end of another successful and memorable holiday display contest.