JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Councilman Rahman Johnson said he’s working to ensure Duval Day still happens after Lil Duval’s team was denied permits to host the block party off Myrtle Avenue.
RELATED: City denies permits to host Duval Day, cites overcrowding, illegal parking, lack of security
Duval Day block party organizers said they’re hitting roadblocks trying to host it off Myrtle Avenue, where it all began.
Mr. Manns, one of the event’s original organizers and Lil Duval’s best friend, said he received an email from the city denying their permit to host Duval Day on North Main Street.
The city cited overcrowding last year, with over 2,000 people attending, illegal parking, and nearby businesses being forced to close.
The email also said the permit lacked critical details like a road closure plan, security, police presence, stage layout, and restroom placement.
The Florida Department of Transportation said North Myrtle Avenue isn’t even a state-maintained road and that it’s managed by the city.
In a statement given to News4JAX, Johnson said that he’s committed to working with officials to ensure Duval Day still happens.
I know firsthand the positive light Lil’ Duval shines on Jacksonville and how much Lil’ Duval Day means to our community. While this year’s permit faced timing and logistical challenges, I’m personally working closely with ASM, our Sports and Entertainment Office, and Mayor Deegan’s team to protect the spirit of the day and honor Lil’ Duval’s dedication to this city. We want Duval Day to happen — and happen right.
Councilman Rahman Johnson
Johnson said he believes in Lil Duval’s vision because it’s rooted in community pride, positivity, and a desire to give back to his city.
“While the final venue details are still being resolved, please know that I am in constant communication with his team and our partners, and I remain fully committed to delivering an outcome that honors his vision and benefits our entire community,” Johnson said.
Lil Duval gave a response after News4JAX originally reported that the permits were denied.
The people who attend the event year after year said the energy speaks for itself.
“It means a lot man, not just to me but to the whole community,” comedian Nod “Lil Nut” Ross said. “We come out, have a good time. You know, everybody just vibing, just bringing everybody together. You get networking out here. You meet people, new people, people who are fans of you, who support you.”
The day has grown from a small celebration to something much bigger.
“I can be standing outside my grandma’s house, man, they’ll pass by. I can’t wait until Duval Day. Can’t wait, older people, younger people, man, it’s crazy,” Mr. Manns said. “They bring their grills out, they cook, they fry fish, they do everything on that day, they really look forward to that day.”
Duval Day started nearly 10 years ago when Lil Duval and Mr. Manns had a simple idea to give back.
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“We came up with an idea, like we need to give back some type of way, like a block party and give back to the community,” Mr. Manns said. “We started doing it on the Fourth of July...It grows, still positive, no violence, no nothing, just straight positive vibes and everything.”
But with growth comes growing pains.
“Then we’re victims of our own success, but everything they listed, we can fix. We just want to keep it here where it all started,” Mr. Manns said.
He said the show celebration is still happening on July 12, with a location still to be determined.
Ross said people in leadership roles who may not understand what Duval Day means to the community should come out and see what it’s about.
“If you’re in a leadership role, you want to be out here to touch the people, and this is the opportunity to put them,” Ross said.
For now, the mission remains the same: giving back to the community that raised them.
Below is the full email sent to the event organizer:
The following email was sent by our Office of Sports and Entertainment to the event organizer. It explains the rationale on the permit denial and history of the event.
Good morning,
This email serves as a formal follow-up to our meeting on Thursday, May 29, 2025, regarding the Special Event Permit Application for Duval Day. As discussed, the event has experienced significant growth in recent years and has exceeded the capacity of its original space.
According to attendance data provided by JFRD, over 2,000 people attended Duval Day in July 2024. While the event has historically aligned with the format of a neighborhood Block Party, these applications are intended for gatherings of 500 attendees or fewer. No Block Party permit applications—either within or above the attendance threshold—were submitted for Duval Day in 2024 or prior years.
Due to the scale of anticipated attendance, the event organizer was required to submit a Special Event Permit Application at least 90 days prior to the event. However, the application was submitted on April 27, 2025—only 76 days in advance—falling short of the required timeline.
Unfortunately, the Special Event Permit Application is denied for the following reasons:
The event is currently being advertised without receiving conditional approval.
The proposed event space is insufficient for the expected number of attendees.
There is inadequate parking available to accommodate attendees.
The submitted site map lacks critical details, including:
Accurate road closure information
Security/police presence for traffic and crowd control
Stage placement
Vendor tent locations and food vendor details
Placement of portable restrooms
In 2024, vehicles were parked illegally along state roads (King St and Beaver St), causing traffic issues and no formal traffic mitigation plan was submitted to JSO.
JSO was required to shut down nearby businesses, including:
Family Dollar (1282 Kings Rd)
Sunoco Gas Station (1393 Kings Rd)
Advance Auto Parts (1315 Kings Rd)These closures were due to excessive crowds entering the businesses, threatening employees, misusing facilities, and engaging in disruptive behavior—including theft and dancing inside freezer units.
You will receive an official denial notification from the permitting system shortly following this email.
Thank you for your understanding.
City of Jacksonville
