Hometown Highlight: St. Augustine
Image courtesy of Jeff Heaton via Unsplash
Summer in St. Augustine
Full of life and character, charming St. Augustine is ranked one of the most beautiful cities in the country. With its tiny streets and long history, there is always somewhere to explore, something to see and a new nook to fall in love with. Walking around town takes you to a whole new world with architecture influenced by the early Spanish settlers. Boasting 42 miles of white sandy beaches, a relaxed surf culture, fresh cuisine and plenty of festivals and concerts, there’s not a moment to waste when it comes to the Nation’s Oldest City. Summer in St. Augustine is pure bliss.
Old City Farmer’s Market
When: June 1st
Where: St. Augustine Amphitheater
Start out your perfect Saturday morning by strolling through the unique vendors of St. Augustine’s Farmer’s Market. With a plethora of goods, you can find anything from fresh produce and luscious plants to buy, to hand-made art and jewelry and of course, fresh made kombucha. You can even find pickles on sticks! It’s a great place to support your local farmers and artists every Saturday from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm.
If you’re not an early riser, The Night Market is just as cool. The Night Market is every 2nd and 4th Tuesday from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm. Enjoy over 90 vendor tents to wander around, live music and a full bar. Take a look at the Night Market Live Music Schedule!
Music by the Sea
When: June 5th
Where: St. John’s County Ocean Pier
What better way to spend your evening then to unwind by the ocean with live music and good food? Music by the Sea is St. Augustine’s annual summer event offering great local bands and food from a different restaurant each night. Locals and tourists alike come for the party every Wednesday from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm on St. Augustine Beach. This family-friendly event is a no-brainer and the perfect way to relax on a Wednesday night.
If you’re hungry, you can purchase a food ticket for just $10 or less. Food is served at 6:00 pm and the music starts at 7:00 pm. Even better, there’s no admission fee! Next Music by the Sea event features a soulful Rock and Blues band accompanied by featured restaurant, By Design Catering. Check out the 2019 schedule and keep updated by their Facebook page.
Movies by the Bay
When: June 12th
Where: Colonial Oak Music Park
Grab a blanket, some picnic food and a group of friends and head over to the Colonial Oak Music park for St. Augustine’s summer film series, Movies by the Bay.
If free movies with charming setting sounds like a good night to you, check out 33 Saint George St. on any Wednesday from June 12th to July 31st. Smallfoot starts off the film series, but be sure to check out the Summer Movie Schedule. Make your night complete by taking a walk down St. George street for some great food and drinks!
Concerts in the Plaza
When: June 6th
Where: Plaza de la Constitución
Support local musicians and have a fun music-filled night with live concerts in the center of downtown St. Augustine. The gazebo of the historic Plaza de la Constitución hosts a range of local and regional musicians for an evening of free concerts. From 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm, come dance and let loose, or grab a blanket and chill out on the lawn for a relaxing summery night in the heart of St. Augustine. Concerts are every Thursday from May 30th to August 29th, with a special performance on the 4th of July.
Sunset Dolphin Beach Walk
When: June 7th
Where: Vilano Beach
Is there a more perfect sounding nature walk then the Sunset Dolphin Beach walk? Most likely not. Don’t miss out on a gorgeous walk on the beach during the best time of day, the Golden hour. Guided by naturalists from Marineland and the county Parks Department, keep your eyes out for dolphins as you learn about their behaviors and anatomy. Marineland Dolphin Adventure will host three walks on Friday June 7th, June 20th and June 25th from 7:30 pm to 8:30 pm. The group will meet at 2750 Anahma Drive on Vilano Beach. If swimming with dolphins sounds more fun, then Marineland Dolphin Adventure is a must while in St. Augustine.
Fireworks over the Matanzas
When: July 4th
Where: Castillo de San Marcos
Celebrate the Fourth of July this year looking over the Matanzas with St. Augustine’s colorful firework show and two-hour concert. With a great view of the Bayfront and Castillo de San Marcos fort St. Augustine puts on an unforgettable fireworks show. Starting at 9:30 pm, it is known that Fireworks over the Matanzas is one of the East Coast’s biggest and best shows with 5,000 individual shells exploding up to 2,000 feet in the air. The streets of St. Augustine are lined with thousands of celebrators, making it one fun holiday.