Friday, December 6th marks the 5th Annual Mandarin Christmas Tree Lighting! This year we are thrilled to announce that Jacksonville Jaguars Legend, Tony Boselli, will throw the switch to Mandarin's Community Christmas Tree. Come meet our NFL team's first player inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame and witness thousands of twinkling lights dance across a soaring real Fraser Fir as we kick off the holiday season in Mandarin!

​There will be live music, food trucks, merchandise for sale, tours of the historic 1911 Mandarin Store & Post Office, and of course – PICTURES WITH SANTA! The event is free and open to the public, we ask that attendees bring canned goods for Mandarin area Food Bank donations. The club gates open at 5pm but the lighting is at 6:30pm so come early to reserve your spots - but we recommend that you bring your own blankets and/or chairs. 

Also, the Mandarin Museum and Historical Society's Winter Celebration is the next day on December 7th from 11am-4pm at the Walter Jones Historical Park – it is the start of such a special season here in Mandarin and we Ho- Ho- Hope to see you there!

September 1945 marked the end of WWII. Enjoy the exuberance of the year through a musical performance by the Theatre Troupe 1776. It’s all part of a fundraiser for the Mandarin Community Club on Saturday, September 14. Doors open at 6:30 pm and the show begins at 7 pm. Coffee and desserts are part of the evening. A wine bar canteen offers libations with a donation suggested.

The "1945 Cabaret" will revive memories for a few and introduce the younger crowd to some of the nation’s finest song writers and composers. Stories of 1940’s North Florida are part of the performance.

“This event is more than a show with song and dance. It’s also a look at the history of this important era. We want to honor veterans and families who lived through the 40’s,” said Troupe Director Patty Everett, also a Mandarin Community Club Board member. “Our Theatre Troup 1776 is about mixing history and theater together. We include actors of all ages. This show is ideal for any age audience. It’s family show.”

World War II began 85 years ago this September when Germany invaded Poland. Two years later, on December 8, Congress voted to declare war on Japan, after Japan’s December 7 surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. The U.S. was then drawn into the global conflict which lasted until September 1945. It was a time like no other.

Reserve your tickets here for $19.45 per person. Place the evening of September 14 on your calendar now!