Revival 250 set for May 3 at VyStar Arena, as Jacksonville prepares for national 250th anniversary

Event scheduled for May 3 at downtown Jacksonville arena

A faith-focused gathering branded as “Revival 250” is scheduled to take place Sunday, May 3, 2026, at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in downtown Jacksonville. Organizers have framed the event as part of the broader national lead-up to the United States’ 250th anniversary on July 4, 2026, a milestone driving yearlong planning and commemorations at the federal level.

The event is planned for an arena owned by the City of Jacksonville and commonly used for major concerts and sporting events. Public venue information lists the arena’s address as 300 A. Philip Randolph Blvd. and notes more than 5,400 on-site parking spaces, with additional overflow parking nearby. Depending on configuration, arena events typically operate at crowd levels in the tens of thousands.

Organizers emphasize participation across churches and community life

In local promotional appearances tied to the event, organizer Chris Widener and Bold City Church pastor Jason Masters described Revival 250 as an effort aimed at drawing churches and individual believers into a single-day gathering. They said the intent is to encourage participants to bring faith into daily life beyond weekly worship services.

The event’s branding aligns with the semiquincentennial theme: “250” references the national anniversary year and the commemorations planned around it. At the federal level, the United States’ 250th anniversary is set for July 4, 2026, and planning has been organized as a multi-year initiative involving government, civic groups, and private partners.

Jacksonville’s historic context cited in event messaging

Organizers have also pointed to local historical narratives when explaining why Jacksonville was selected. In their public remarks, they referenced early Protestant history in the region, including French Huguenots who settled in Florida during the 16th century and were later killed during conflict with Spanish forces. That history has been incorporated into the event’s local framing, though the gathering itself is designed as a contemporary worship and preaching program rather than a historical commemoration.

Logistics and potential economic effects: what is known so far

Large single-day arena events in Jacksonville typically involve coordinated transportation, parking, and public-safety planning, as well as measurable activity for nearby businesses. Specific attendance projections, ticketing details, and a full list of speakers and performers were not detailed in the most recent local discussions of the event, and additional operational specifics have not been publicly finalized in a single consolidated release.

However, event organizers and participating local clergy have described several types of outcomes they hope to see, including community engagement and charitable activity tied to participating churches and local networks.

• Date and venue: May 3, 2026, at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in downtown Jacksonville.

• Theme: Positioned in the lead-up to the United States’ July 4, 2026, 250th anniversary.

• Local framing: Messaging references early Protestant history in the Jacksonville-area region.

As Jacksonville enters a year of heightened national commemoration activity, Revival 250 is being promoted as one of the large, scheduled gatherings planned for spring 2026 at a major city venue.