February 15, 2019, marks the 500th Birthday of Pedro Menendez de Aviles, founder of Saint Augustine.  To commemorate the event, The Historic Florida Militia will present a week long celebration, the “Festival de San Agustin”.  This celebration of our City’s Spanish Heritage will start on Saturday February 9th and conclude on Saturday February 16.  

    Saturday February 9, come to the Colonial Quarter, 33 Saint George Street, for the school of the Sixteenth Century.   There you will be able to experience life as it was in Saint Augustine in 1565.  Historically dressed reenactors will demonstrate both military and civilian activities.  See and hear our Soldados (Spanish Soldiers) shoot the Matchlock Arquebus, the predecessor of the musket.  Participate in pike pushes and sword fighting.  Blacksmithing, sixteenth century cooking, bead jewelry making and the textiles and clothing of the period will all be on display.  

   Thursday evening February 14 the PBS Documentary “The Secrets of Spanish Florida” will be shown on the big screen at the Colonial Oaks at the Colonial Quarter.  This critically acclaimed documentary, featuring many of the reenactors in town, tells the story of how America really began. 42 years before Jamestown and 55 years before the Pilgrims landed on Plymouth Rock there was Saint Augustine.  This show is free and open to the public.  Beverages and food will be available for purchase.  

   Friday morning February 15, members of the Historic Florida Militia will participate in the City’s official Wreath Laying Ceremony at the Statue of Pedro Menendez in front of the Lightner Museum.  This event is free and open to the public.  The exact time of this event will be announced later.  

    Friday evening February 15, there will be a History on the Streets Saunter.  Many of you are familiar with this activity which is free and open to the public.  Come see and speak with our historians.  Feel free to take photos. For this Saunter our living history reenactors will all be dressed in sixteenth century attire.   It will start at 5:30 pm from the area of the Colonial Quarter and we will saunter along Saint George Street and the Historic District.  

   Saturday afternoon February 16, come be witness to the Spanish tradition of a  Paseo.  A Paseo is a lively and colorful spectacle that includes drums, flags, large papier-mâché heads and historically clad participants.  This event will start at 2:30pm from the Visitors Information Center and will make its way down Saint George Street to the Governor’s House Museum.  This event is also free and open to the public.  If you would be interested in participating in either the Saunter or the Paseo, we can help you get your garb together.

    Saturday evening February 16.   Our week long celebration culminates with a party celebrating our founder’s 500th birthday.  For many years the Menendez Gala was held to commemorate the occasion. With that in mind, the Historic Florida Militia, a 501-3c not-for-profit organization, wanting to keep both the City’s history and traditions alive, will host the “Noche de Festival”.  The party, on Saturday evening February 16, 2019, and starting at 6:30pm, will be a spectacle of sights, and sounds and even tastes of the City’s Spanish heritage dating back to 1565.  This party, being held in the beautiful new Pavilion at the Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park, will feature Spanish Tapas and Sangria, traditional Spanish Music and entertainment, and a dinner of Spanish Paella cooked in big pans right in front of the guests.  The evening will end with dance music for everyone to party the night away.  Guests will be encouraged to wear their finest Renaissance clothing or their finest cocktail attire.  All this at a ticket price the average Saint Augustine resident could afford.  Let’s party like it’s 1565.  Tickets are now available at eventbite.com  “Noche de Festival”