The Jacksonville Beach Police Department tells Action News ... which broke out around the boardwalk, after between 250-400 people, mostly teens, had an unpermitted gathering involving fights.

Four shot, hundreds scurrying for safety, bars locked down and evacuations ordered. Jacksonville Beach plans to not have a St. Patrick’s Day repeat.

"Who needs a Boardwalk when you can have a Downtown ... San Marco, Neptune Beach, Atlantic Beach and Jacksonville Beach were also given their own squares. "Jacksonville is such an iconic city ...