By: Madeline Cunningham
Down in Jacksonville Beach during the holiday season is an annual event taking place at the Seawalk Pavilion. Deck The Chairs has been around since 2013 and is featured at the amphitheater from late November to January 1st.
The exhibition features dozens of decorated lifeguard chairs. Organizations and schools decorate and design their own lifeguard chairs to be featured. The chairs are lit up at 5 p.m. with holiday lights. These lights are synchronized with holiday music, and the exhibition is free to the public.
The founder, Kurtis Loftus, started the exhibition to bring life to the Jacksonville Beach community. This event helps promote the arts in the community, donating to Jacksonville middle and high school arts programs. More than 2100 students in the Jacksonville area decorate, volunteer, and perform in programs. Dance performances and other student-led programs are featured during the 6 weeks whenthe exhibition is open. There are over 120 partnerships that work with the exhibition and 500 volunteers that work year-round to help with the event.