Events

St. Augustine’s 450th Commemoration

Visit the official 450th web site @ www.staugustine-450.com

On September 8, 2015, the City of St. Augustine, will commemorate its 450th anniversary as the oldest continually occupied European settlement in the United States. Quite a feat.
 
But the commemoration will not be just one day; it will extend over a four year period starting in 2012 with the bicentennial of the Spanish Constitution, continuing into 2013 with the 500th anniversary of the founding of Florida by Juan Ponce de Leon, including the 50th anniversary of the passage of the Civil Rights Act, and then culminating with St. Augustine’s anniversary in 2015.
 
For the commemoration, St. Augustine will highlight its rich history, celebrate its cultural diversity and in an entertaining way improve the awareness of the significance of St. Augustine in the history of America and the world. In addition, the commemoration will enhance tourism, encourage economic development and improve the quality of life of the residents of St. Augustine during and after the commemoration's events.
 
 
 
 
2012 Events








Discover First America! Program Adventure
November 20, 2012 at 7 p.m.
Flagler College Auditorium
The first program in this series is titled Myth Busters. It is sponsored by
Tour St. Augustine.






Discover First America! Program Adventure
December 5, 2012 at 7 p.m.
Flagler College Auditorium

This next program in the series is titled 450 Years of Song & Dance. It is sponsored by Romanza.








 
2013 Events

Discover First America! Program Adventure - Series 3
December 2012 - March 2013
Flagler College Auditorium

The Discover First America! program adventure provides community members with educational and entertaining information on St. Augustine's history through presentations, re-enactments, music, dance and sometimes even food! Held at Flagler College Auditorium, 14 Granada St., the programs are free and open to the public. St. Augustine 450th Commemoration passports and souvenir stampings are complimentary to participants.




Viva Picasso! Exhibition
January 19 - April 19, 2013
Visitor Information Center



Viva Picasso! Viva St. Augustine! Viva Florida! Picasso is coming to St. Augustine…his creative work, that is. From Jan. 19 to April 19, 2013, a Picasso exhibition will be on display at the Visitor Information Center located at 10 S. Castillo Drive in downtown St. Augustine. The exhibition will showcase the Spanish cultural flavor of St. Augustine and is a celebration of the Spanish artistic traditions that were introduced in 1565 when Don Pedro Menéndez de Avilés stepped off his ship with artisans and craftsman into what would become the oldest, continuously occupied settlement in the continental United States. This exhibit will allow the city to embrace its ancient Spanish cultural roots and memorialize its rich Hispanic traditions.




Viva Picasso! will be an exhibition of 68 original and handcrafted works of art by perhaps the most well-known artist of the past 100 years. The exhibition will contain a vast array of techniques used by Picasso such as engravings, linoleum cuts, lithography, ceramics, gold and stone sculpture, and various trends including Cubism. Picasso was not only a painter, but he was also a sculptor, a printmaker, a ceramist and one of the greatest and most influential artists of the 20th century.





Casa Monica Hotel Noche de Gala
February 23, 2013 at 5 p.m.
Lightner Museum


Join in the 16th century Noche de Gala, the birthday celebration honoring don Pedro Menéndez de Avilés, the founder of our Nation’s Oldest City, St. Augustine.

The celebration begins on Saturday, February 23rd at 5 p.m. with a grand and exciting procession through downtown St. Augustine to announce the arrival of Menéndez who will be accompanied by his colorful entourage. Starting at the City Gate, Menéndez will lead the procession down St. George Street to the front of the Lightner Museum, engaging the town folks as he inspects his colony and prepares to enjoy his birthday celebration, Noche de Gala.

The exquisite Lightner Museum is the setting for the annual Noche de Gala, which starts with cocktails at 6:30 p.m. in the Grand Ballroom followed by dinner on the Mezzanine at 8 p.m. Entertainment features Menéndez, his entourage, 16th century musicians, heralding horns and swordsmen.

The Noche de Gala is sponsored by the
Casa Monica Hotel. For more information, contactLinda Henry at 904.827.1888.






Historical Re-enactment of the Landing of Ponce de Leon, Mass led by the Bishop, Reception & Spanish Royal Visit (Invited)
April 3, 2013
Multiple Locations throughout St. Augustine




Ancient City Mosaic Exhibit
April 26 - June 22, 2013
Visitor Information Center


The St. Augustine 450th Commemoration, the
St. Augustine Sertoma Club, and the St. Johns Cultural Council are teaming up to present this exciting exhibit. The exhibit will feature 450 works of art depicting impressions of St. Augustine. Everyone is invited and encouraged to participate. A judging panel will select the top 450 works of art, which will be the first exhibit at the newly remodeled Visitor Information Center. The 450 works of art will also be available to view on the internet through an online silent auction. Funds raised will be presented to St. Johns County Education Foundation Arts Alive Program. For more information, visit www.ancientcitymosaic.com.

 



Alligators: Dragons in Paradise Exhibit
July 3 - September 22, 2013
Visitor Information Center





Spanish Wine & Food Festival
October 3-6, 2013
Promenade & Visitor Information Center

Spanish culture permeates the colonial city. Spanish wine distributors as well as local and regional restaurants will provide a celebration of heritage foods, wine, dance and culture.




New World in the Eyes of Explorers Exhibition

October 11, 2013 - January 4, 2014
Visitor Information Center

When European explorers touched the shores of the New World, they had no idea people were living there, nor did Native Americans know that an Old World culture existed. This epic event changed the world forever. Images of the New World and its indigenous peoples and animals are some of the most fascinating documents of this cultural collision and exchange.




St. Augustine Half Marathon
November 16-17, 2013

This event is perfect for the entire family! A 5K, 10K and fun run will take place on Saturday, November 16th, and the half marathon will be on Sunday, November 17th. The race routes will take you on a foot-tour of majestic St. Augustine. For more information and to register for the races, visit www.staugustinemarathon.com.

 



Maritime Heritage Festival
November 30, 2013
St. Augustine Municipal Marine & Promenade

This event will begin as Stanley Paris, the founding president and chairman of the University of St. Augustine, launches his high-tech sailing vessel on a voyage around the world. On this voyage, Paris will attempt to break the world record by sailing around the world unassisted in 150 days or less. He will also be the oldest skipper to attempt this mission at the age of 76. The festival will include new and historical boats and vessels, educational components, food, music and other entertainment.
 
 








2014 Events

Discover First America! Program Adventure - Series 4
December 2013 - March 2014
Flagler College Auditorium

The Discover First America! program adventure provides community members with educational and entertaining information on St. Augustine's history through presentations, re-enactments, music, dance and sometimes even food! Held at Flagler College Auditorium, 14 Granada St., the programs are free and open to the public. St. Augustine 450th Commemoration passports and souvenir stampings are complimentary to participants.
 



 
Casa Monica Hotel Noche de Gala
February 22, 2014 at 5 p.m.
Lightner Museum


Join in the 16th century Noche de Gala, the birthday celebration honoring don Pedro Menéndez de Avilés, the founder of our Nation’s Oldest City, St. Augustine.

The celebration begins on Saturday, February 23rd at 5 p.m. with a grand and exciting procession through downtown St. Augustine to announce the arrival of Menéndez who will be accompanied by his colorful entourage. Starting at the City Gate, Menéndez will lead the procession down St. George Street to the front of the Lightner Museum, engaging the town folks as he inspects his colony and prepares to enjoy his birthday celebration, Noche de Gala.

The exquisite Lightner Museum is the setting for the annual Noche de Gala, which starts with cocktails at 6:30 p.m. in the Grand Ballroom followed by dinner on the Mezzanine at 8 p.m. Entertainment features Menéndez, his entourage, 16th century musicians, heralding horns and swordsmen.

The Noche de Gala is sponsored by the
Casa Monica Hotel. For more information, contact Linda Henry at 904.827.1888.
 



Treasures of America Convention
May 2014
Visitor Information Center

African-American cultural objects, as well as those from other cultures, will be evaluated and conserved in an open convention at the Visitor Information Center. The public workshop is designed to help residents protect and store their family heirlooms and prized antiques, from photographs to quilts.

 











Civil Rights Commemorative March

June 2014

 



St. Augustine Spanish Wine & Food Festival
October 2014
Promenade & Visitor Information Center

Spanish culture permeates the colonial city. In coordination with the International Spain – United States Chamber of Commerce and Spanish wine distributors, as well as local and regional restaurants, a celebration of heritage foods, wine, dance and culture fills the weekend.

 



St. Augustine Half Marathon
November 15-16, 2014

This event is perfect for the entire family! A 5K, 10K and fun run will take place on Saturday, November 15th, and the half marathon will be on Sunday, November 16th. The race routes will take you on a foot-tour of majestic St. Augustine. For more information and to register for the races, visit www.staugustinemarathon.com.
 








 
 
2015 Events

Discover First America! Program Adventure - Series 5
December 2014 - March 2015
Flagler College Auditorium

The Discover First America! program adventure provides community members with educational and entertaining information on St. Augustine's history through presentations, re-enactments, music, dance and sometimes even food! Held at Flagler College Auditorium, 14 Granada St., the programs are free and open to the public. St. Augustine 450th Commemoration passports and souvenir stampings are complimentary to participants.
 



Casa Monica Hotel Noche de Gala
February 28, 2015 at 5 p.m.
Lightner Museum


Join in the 16th century Noche de Gala, the birthday celebration honoring don Pedro Menéndez de Avilés, the founder of our Nation’s Oldest City, St. Augustine.

The celebration begins on Saturday, February 23rd at 5 p.m. with a grand and exciting procession through downtown St. Augustine to announce the arrival of Menéndez who will be accompanied by his colorful entourage. Starting at the City Gate, Menéndez will lead the procession down St. George Street to the front of the Lightner Museum, engaging the town folks as he inspects his colony and prepares to enjoy his birthday celebration, Noche de Gala.

The exquisite Lightner Museum is the setting for the annual Noche de Gala, which starts with cocktails at 6:30 p.m. in the Grand Ballroom followed by dinner on the Mezzanine at 8 p.m. Entertainment features Menéndez, his entourage, 16th century musicians, heralding horns and swordsmen.

The Noche de Gala is sponsored by the
Casa Monica Hotel. For more information, contact Linda Henry at 904.827.1888.
 




Performance by Top Spanish Performers
September 2015
Flagler College Auditorium

EMMA Concert Association is coordinating and producing this event.

 



Grand 450th Commemoration Ball & Spanish Royal Visit (Invited)
September 2015
Lightner Museum

 




International Spanish Wine & Food Festival
October 2015
Promenade & Visitor Information Center

Spanish culture permeates the colonial city. In coordination with the International Spain – United States Chamber of Commerce and Spanish wine distributors, as well as local and regional restaurants, a celebration of heritage foods, wine, dance and culture fills the weekend.
 



St. Augustine Half Marathon
November 15-16, 2015

This event is perfect for the entire family! A 5K, 10K and fun run will take place on Saturday, November 15th, and the half marathon will be on Sunday, November 16th. The race routes will take you on a foot-tour of majestic St. Augustine. For more information and to register for the races, visit www.staugustinemarathon.com.
 



Tapestry - Cultural Threads of First America Exhibit
November 2015 - January 2016
Visitor Information Center

When St. Augustine founder Don Pedro Menendez de Aviles landed with 800 colonists in 1565, he had on board Africans, both freed and enslaved. They cohabitated with Native Americans at the Timucuan Indian village of Seloy and in what would become the first permanent settlement in North America. This was the beginning of the Hispanic-American and the African-American experience in the New World, as well as the genesis of the American culture of many ethnicities that defines our nation. These cultural threads will be traced for 450 years in this signature exhibition.
 
 
 
 
 
Info. Taken From The Below Sites: