Any excuse for a party, Jax Beach is revving up for the big one on Saturday night. Locals, townies, and ?feriners? in town for the Gator Bowl will be flocking to the Jacksonville beaches? hotels, restaurants and nightclubs, to party into the wee hours ? in some cases until 4 a.m... With temperatures forecasted into the mid 70's, we'll be lovin it! Here's a rundown on just some of the action happening New Years Eve in Jax Beach Florida.

This New Years Eve marks the end of an era for many locals of the beaches area. First Street Grill will be closing its doors for the last time early New Year's day. Slated for demolition early next year to make room for a new 7 story condo, First Street Grill promises to go out with a bang. They are still taking reservations for their last bash. $175.00 will get you 2 five coarse dinners, a bottle of champagne and 2 glasses of bubbly at midnight to bring in the New Year. Entertainment will be provided by ?The Company?, serving up a repertoire of oldies from the 60's and 70's. Dining and dancing days of the First Street Grill will be sorely missed and fondly remembered by us all?may all acquaintance?

Right at the hub of the party is Magellan's Oceanfront Restaurant, specializing in fresh local seafood and angus steaks. Casual dining inside with an ocean view, or on the boardwalk patio overlooking the Jax Beach Pier, Magellan's is sure to be an end of the year dining extravaganza. After dinner visit DJs KG and Jade upstairs at the Atlantic nightclub, then truck on across the courtyard to JB's premier Ocean Club. The OC will have party favors, a champagne toast, and 4 DJs, inside and outside on the boardwalk, in 4 different rooms. There's a $20 cover charge, but they'll be partying till 4am!

If you want a change of pace, cruise across the street to the Ritz, where there's never a cover charge. Dance to the music till 4am. The ?Jax Beach Triangle? ? Atlantic, Ocean Club, and the Ritz ? party till 4 on the strip!

Also open till 4, one block away Eddie Bahamas is having a Beach Party! Partake in Eddie's excellent Caribbean cuisine, and then dance till you drop at 4am! No cover charge at Eddie's!

Jax Beach's most loved band Mofro, a frequent performer at our ?Springin? the Blues? festival, will be appearing just down the street at FreeBird Live! (congrats on the hall of fame thing). Mofro, with Eric Lindell will be performing both Friday and Saturday. Dial 246.2473 for details.

For those of you who just want to get on the ocean, have a good meal, drink and do some gambling, SunCruz Casinos offers 5 hour tours out of Mayport. Call 249.9300 for more info, and be sure to pick up a voucher at the Holiday Inn for a free boarding pass and a bunch of other free stuff.

Do yourself a favor and spend the night at the beach. Many of the Hotels on Jax Beach still have rooms available for the weekend. The Holiday Inn at 15th Ave. and 1st St. North has rooms starting at $129. The Comfort Inn just next door had 50 rooms on Thursday, and just dropped their rates to $99. Quality Suites at Beach Blvd. and 1st Street is closest to where the action is, and their rooms are starting at $219, not bad when you consider all of their rooms are ?Suites?. Whatever you do, be safe! JBPD are some very serious people.

The People of Jacksonville Beach are all about fun! Weather your in town for the Gator Bowl, or just a hardy partying local. You'll find all the fun you need, right here in Jax Beach, Fla!