December 2025 Articles

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Deck The Chairs

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. 

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Live and die by the axe: a four day Marathon

By: Daniel Cimino

Over the recent years, ax throwing has seen a growth in popularity, so it’s no surprise that competitive leagues are on the rise as well.  

A league season lasts eight weeks, with seven of those weeks being used to determine seeding for the playoff round that occurs to decide a winner. But for some people, an eight-weekseason seems too long… if you could get a season’s worth of ax throwing done in a single day? 

That’s what a marathon is for, and Live by the Axe will be hosting four of these deadly events consecutively between Dec. 31, 2025 and Jan. 3, 2026. The event is aptly titled “Live (and Die) by the Axe”, and it provides a great opportunity to get a lot of throws in and to meet members of the community from all over the country. 

“We have got people coming in from Baltimore, people coming in from south Florida, we’re trying to get some people in from the Pittsburgh and Philadelphia area as well,” says Jay Grayauskie, a local league runner and southeast representative for the IATF (International Axe Throwing Federation).  

“It sounds like a lot but it’s actually the best ways to learn, because you can start getting in a rhythm. You don’t have to come in, play a couple games and then try to come again next week and remember what you did right and what you did wrong.” 

The owner of Live by the Axe, Nicole Fletcher, described the event as “the extreme of the extreme” and is very excited to host an event that according to her is “unprecedented”. 

“The idea of doing four marathons in four days has never even been contemplated before. I don’t think anyone’s ever done it,” she said. “I’m not even sure how we’re going to pull it offbut it’s going to be a ton of fun. It’s going to be four 12-hour days of 20-plus people throwing axes. I can’t wait.” 

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Sunhoney: A Store that Stays true to it’s name

By: Jasper Rosas

Found in the heart of Jacksonville Beach, Sunhoney has grown into one of the area’s most cherished local boutiques.  

Founded in 2019 by Jacksonville-native, Alyssa Amato, Sunhoney was created with the goal of creating a brand uniquely positive and uplifting for women everywhere. After years of developing the brand online through her website and across social media, Amato was finally able to bring her final vision to life by opening her own physical store.  

It’s a place that’s inclusive for all and allows visitors to shop through an abundance of trendy and high-quality clothing and accessories. Amato handmakes and designs some of the merchandise, butalso spends time traveling across the country to different wholesale shows, looking for pieces that would fit the Sunhoney theme.  

The atmosphere inside of Sunhoney is a feel-good space where customers always have access to top-notch customer service and a welcoming aesthetic. The store is filled with bright lights and a beach town vibe. Sunhoney’s emphasis on creating a genuine connection and supporting their community has developed a loyal fan base that continues to come back. Even if you can’t make it to the store, there are constant releases online as well. 

 If you’re making a trip near the beach, or settle for online shopping, Sunhoney does a fantastic job representing Jacksonville Beach’s boutique scene by focusing on positivity, creativity, and flair.