FRIDAY MARCH 30
Free Concert at Villa Zorayda
Get inspired with a beautiful mix of music and architecture when the Royalaires choir performs at Villa Zorayda. The Royalaires, from Gentry, Arkansas, will be under the direction of Leandro Bizama, a native of Argentina with a masters in choral conducting from the University of Arkansas. The Royalaires’ repertoire includes spirituals, hymns, sacred songs and original Spanish-language compositions written by Bizama. The 45-minute concert begins at 4 p.m. at Villa Zorayda, 83 King Street in St. Augustine. Admission is free. For more information, call 904.829.9887.
Queen of the Pirates
Join the infamous female pirate Anne Bonney for a rollicking return to the Golden Age of Piracy! Portrayed by historian and actor Dianne Jacoby, the Queen of the Pirates will entertain and thrill guests with tales of high seas piracy and plundering. Presented by The Florida Heritage Book Festival, the evening will also feature complimentary rum punch, assorted tapas and door prizes. It all takes place from 5- 7 p.m. at the A1A Ale Works’ Bayview Room, 1 King Street in St. Augustine. Tickets are $28 per person through March 20; $35 after that date. (Pirate attire optional. Elevator available.) For more information and reservations, call 904-940-0194 or email kdvor@bellsouth.net Tickets may be purchased online at www.fhbookfest.com
FRIDAY & SATURDAY MARCH 30-31
First Coast Offshore Challenge
Hoist your sails or watch from the coast. Beginning on Wednesday, there will be three PHRF sailboat races covering over 100 miles of offshore sailing. The historic city of St. Augustine, Florida is the start and stop point for each race. The Series is open to all seaworthy cruising sailboats that are not less than 24 feet in length. Ceremonies and awards follow each day’s race at various locations. The final ceremony takes place at St. Augustine Yacht Club, located by water at 29º 53′ 10″ N / 81º 17′ 12″ W or 442 Ocean Vista Ave, St. Augustine. For more information, call 904-396-6382.
SATURDAY MARCH 31
Cultural History Tour at Guana Peninsula
Celebrate Florida’s Archeology Month by taking a guided tour of Guana Peninsula, which has 5,000 years of human history. The peninsula has been home to Timucuan villages, a Spanish mission, the British governor of Florida and several Minorcan families. This two-mile hiking tour departs at 9 a.m. from the Guana Trailhead Pavilion at GTM Research Reserve, located at 505 Guan River Road in Ponte Vedra Beach. There is a $3 parking fee. For more information, call 904-823-4500.
This Other World: Ponce de León and the Founding of Florida
Enjoy celebratory activities and presentations about the landing of Don Juan Ponce de León’s “First Fleet,” which carried passengers and crew – white, black, Native American; male and female; soldier and sailor; slave and free – becoming the first documented Europeans and Africans to set foot on what is now the continental United States. The original landing took place on the east coast of Florida on April 3rd, 1513. This heritage event will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Mission Nombre de Dios, located on San Marco Avenue in St. Augustine. For more information, visit www.floridalivinghistory.org, or call 877-352-4478.
Ximinez-Fatio House Girl Scouts Living History Day
Bring the whole family to the Ximinez-Fatio House when Gateway Girl Scouts Council present a celebration of accomplishments of the past women owners of the house during the hardships of the Seminole Indian uprisings, Yellow Fever, Territorial days and Florida’s early statehood. Visitors will get to interact with the Lady proprietors, their guests and servants to experience what like was like in a 18th fashionable St. Augustine boarding house. It all happens from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Ximinez-Fatio House, located at 20 Aviles Street in St. Augustine. Admission is $5.
For more information, call 904-829-3575.
Living History Days at Fort Mose
Experience living history demonstrations as volunteers in period dress offer visitors a fascinating glimpse into the past. Program is weather permitting.The demonstrations take place from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at Fort Mose State Park located at 15 Fort Mose Trail in St. Augustine. Admission is $4 per vehicle or $2 for pedestrians or bicyclists. For more information, call 904.823.2232 or visit www.floridastateparks.org/fortmose.
The Ghosts of Aviles
Join Denice and Larry Altman at their shop, Antiques & Uniques Collectibles, for thrilling information on “the Ghosts of Aviles”. Located at 11 Aviles Street in St. Augustine, the special building that houses their shop was built in 1888 as the City Jail – on the location of a former cemetery! The stories and fun are from 2-4 p.m. Admission is free.
Timucua: A Native American Program at Faver Dykes State Park
Come be a part of a unique, hands-on Native America experience and discover the life ways of the Timucuan Indians and their relationship to the land that they loved. Explore with an expert guide and enjoy stories about the Timucuans and the important role the river, forest and ocean played in their everyday lives. See a 1500’s Timucuan Camp and experience the food, clothing and shelter of these amazing people first hand. Try your hand at throwing an atlatl or starting a fire using a bow and drill. The program will be held from 2 to 4
p.m. at the Faver Dykes State Park picnic area. The program will be included in the regular park entrance fee of $5 per vehicle. Faver Dykes State Park is located at 1000 Faver-Dykes Road, off I-95 Exit 298 and US 1 South in St. Augustine. For more information call 386-446-6783 or email Melissa.Kafel@dep.state.fl.us .
Uptown Saturday Night
From 5 to 9 p.m. on the last Saturday of each month, experience live music, refreshments, new exhibits, book signings and much more at the galleries, antique stores and unique shops on St. Augustine’s San Marco Avenue between Ripley’s Museum and the Mission Nombre de Dios. The Mission Nombre de Dios provides FREE PARKING. For more information, call 904.823.9263.
SATURDAY & SUNDAY MARCH 31-APRIL 1
Old Town Art & Craft Show
Celebrate spring at this juried art and fine craft show featuring outstanding artists and craftsmen from St. Augustine and around the country. Features the very best from exquisite jewelry to funky and functional pottery, abstract sculpture to glistening glass, hand-woven fashions to stunning photography, extraordinary paintings to wonderful wood carvings – and much more! Show hours are 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. both days. Held at Francis Field, 25 W. Castillo Drive, St. Augustine. FREE admission. For more information, email lynn@holidayartshows.com
Spring Member Show
Stop in the St. Augustine Art Association Gallery to see this wonderful exhibit of Association member’s art. The open media, open subject works will be juried for awards and will be on display through April 21.. The St. Augustine Art Association Gallery is located at 22 Marine Street in St. Augustine. The gallery is open Tuesday through Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 2 to 5 p.m. Admission is free. For more information, visit www.staaa.org or call 904-824-2310.
SUNDAY APRIL 1
Blessing of the Fleet
Witness a ceremony that dates back to the City of St. Augustine’s Spanish occupation as those that take to the sea, in commercial and pleasure craft alike; receive a blessing from the Bishop of the Diocese of St. Augustine. The event draws thousands on Palm Sunday to watch as watercraft from trawlers and yachts to sailboats and motor craft – all decorated with flags and bunting –receive this special blessing. The ceremony begins at noon with a procession from the Cathedral Basilica along the Plaza de La Constitucion to the St. Augustine Municipal Marina. For more information, call 904.824.9725 or visit www.sayc2000.com
