Saint Augustine Colonial Night Watch

The holiday season wouldn’t be the same without the Saint Augustine Colonial Night Watch.  This year’s event features hundreds of historically clad reenactors on the weekend of Dec 2nd & 3rd.

This living history event starts with the Enemy at the Gate program at the Castillo de San Marcos on Friday evening from 6:30-8:30 PM.

The interior of the Castillo, lit up by candles and lanterns will be the site of the reenactment of the Spanish Soldados planning a counterattack to regain control of Fort Mose. Tours of guests will go room to room to watch the soldiers prepare for battle.

This is a ticketed event that sells out fast.  NPS fees apply for this evening program.

Saturday at 10 AM, the fun begins at the Colonial Quarter Museum where visitors will witness a colonial-era historical encampment all day long.  Spanish, British, and Native American living history interpretations will showcase blacksmithing, medical practices, cooking techniques, handicrafts, and more all day long, plus musket firings throughout the day.

This event is free and open to the public.

The main attraction is the Torch Light Parade. Starting from the Castillo de San Marcos at 7 PM,  military units, Native Americans, and colonial distaff exit the fort.  Torches brighten the night as flags and fife and drum music lead the procession.  Hundreds of reenactors have participated in past parades and this year’s event is shaping up to be one of the best ever.

The line of march will proceed through the City Gates and down St. George Street for a photo op of a lifetime.

The re-enactors will stop in front of the Government House Museum for a ceremony led by the honorary historical “Spanish Governor.”  The Volley of Joy will close the reenactment with dozens of muskets firing in unison.

Everyone is invited to stick around and join in the singing of traditional Christmas Carols.