Labor Day weekend events

Communications Director Jay Humphreys with the St. Augustine Visitors and Convention Bureau updated Historic City News on this Labor Day weekend’s entertainment events.

Thursday: September 3

SUMMER CONCERT AND BIRTHDAY CAKE IN THE PLAZA
Bring your chair and enjoy an evening jazz concert by Gatorbone in St. Augustine’s Plaza de la Constitucion. Just prior to the concert, city officials and the Royal Family will serve free birthday cake in honor of the city’s 444th birthday! The concert is from 7 to 9 p.m. and is free to the public. For more information, call 904.825.1004 or visit www.plazaconcerts.com.

Thursday, Friday and Saturday: September 3 – 5

CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE 444th BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION
Put on your 16th century party hat and celebrate St. Augustine’s 444th Birthday! On Thursday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., the Native American village of Seloy (now the Fountain of Youth Archeological Park) will come alive with demonstrations of the culture and lifestyles of natives who inhabited the area 500 years prior to the Spanish 1565 settlement. Plus, the Seminoles and other U.S. tribes that have been part of Florida’s history will be represented. On Saturday, the Birthday celebration continues at 9:30 a.m. with a re-enactment of the 1565 landing by the city’s founder, don Pedro Menendez de Aviles, at the Mission of Nombre de Dios. The landing will be followed, as it was 444 years ago, with a celebration of Mass. Then at 5 p.m. registration for the 16th century First Thanksgiving Cooking Contest begins. At 6 p.m. foods entered into the competition will be presented and judged at the Fountain of Youth Park. Authentic 16th century dinners will be available for purchase. Period music and dancing will be performed throughout the evening. Admission is free to all St. Augustine 444th Birthday Celebration events. The Mission of Nombre de Dios is located at 27 Ocean Avenue off San Marco Avenue in St. Augustine. For more information, call 904.825.1000

Friday: September 4

FIRST FRIDAY ART WALK
Enjoy the latest exhibits, music, entertainment and refreshments at over 20 participating galleries. At 6 p.m., Ms. Shannon McKay will present a free organ recital at the Cathedral Basilica. Tours begin at Rembrandtz American Craft Gallery, 131 King Street. Galleries are open from 5 to 9 p.m. St. Augustine Sightseeing Trains and Old Town Trolleys offer attendees a complimentary shuttle service to most of the galleries. Shuttles run on a continuous loop every 30 minutes. For more information, call 904.829.0065 or visit www.artgalleriesofstaugustine.com .

SUNSET/MOONRISE TOUR
Be a guest of the St. Augustine Lighthouse and enjoy viewing the sunset and moonrise from the most unique perspective in all of St. Augustine! This special event includes a champagne toast, provided by San Sebastian Winery, atop the tower and an informative overview of the history of the St. Augustine Light Station. The tour takes place from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the St. Augustine Lighthouse located at 81 Lighthouse Avenue in St. Augustine. The fee for the event, which includes a champagne toast provided by San Sebastian Winery and light refreshments provided by The Reef, is $25 for non-museum members and $20 for members. For reservations, call 904.829.0745.

Friday, Saturday and Sunday: September 4-6

JUNIOR PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP AT TPC SAWGRASS
Come see the top young golfers from 15 countries and 18 states compete in the third Junior Players Championship at the TPC Sawgrass Players Stadium Course. The American Junior Golf Association event includes 14 members of the AJGA’s Rolex All-American team, 22 of the top-25 rising high school seniors and 20 of the top-25 rising juniors on the AJGA’s Polo Junior Golf rankings. Play begins at 8 a.m. each morning for this 54 hole stroke play golf tournament. TPC Sawgrass is located on PGA Boulevard in Ponte Vedra Beach. For more information, visit www.ajga.org/TournInfo/2009/default.asp?TN=T80 .

Saturday and Sunday: September 5 – 6

Golden Dragon Acrobats at st. augustine amphitheatre
Experience a fascinating acrobatic performance that represents the best of a time honored tradition that began more than twenty-seven centuries ago. Direct from Hebei, China, The Golden Dragon Acrobats have traveled all 50 states and to over 65 countries and have received the National Association of Campus Activities (NACA) Entertainer of the Year Award. The amphitheatre gates open at 6 p.m. and the show begins at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $12 for adults & $6 for children 12 and under and seniors. The St. Augustine Amphitheatre is located on A1A in St. Augustine. For more information call 904.471.1965 or visit www.StAugAmphitheatre.com.

Saturday: September 5

SAND SCULPTING CLASSES AT ST. AUGUSTINE BEACH
Come learn about the art, techniques and tools to make great sandcastles! These family-fun instructional sessions take place from 10 a.m. to noon on the beach in front of Ocean Trace Ramp at St. Augustine Beach. The classes are free and open to the public. For more information, call 904.501.1253 or email Melissa@citygateproductions.com, or visit www.50thBeachBirthday.com.

Sunday: September 6

ST. AUGUSTINE ART ASSOCIATION FALL MEMBERS SHOW
Enjoy a variety of subjects and mediums in this exhibition of works created by St. Augustine Art Association members. The St. Augustine Art Association is located at 22 Marine Street in St. Augustine. The gallery hours are Tuesday to Saturday 12 to 4 p.m. and Sunday 2 to 5 p.m. The Fall Members Show will be open through September 27. For more information, please call 904.824.2310, or visit www.staaa.org.

Monday: September 7

LABOR DAY CONCERT IN THE PLAZA
Bring your chair and enjoy the final concert of the season in St. Augustine’s Plaza de la Constitucion. Catch the cool summer breezes under a canopy of live oaks while the St. Augustine Jazz Society presents The Boston Connection & Gil Surrett and a Jazz Society Jam Session. The concert is from 1 to 5 p.m. and is free to the public. For more information, call 904.825.1004 or visit www.plazaconcerts.com.

Kayaking AND DOLPHINS
Join a professional kayak/naturalist guide paddling through one of the best kept natural systems in all of Florida. Enjoy beautiful panoramas of the Pellicer Creek, the Princess Place Preserve and Faver-Dykes State Park all nestled in 30,000 contiguous acres that is one of the most productive ecosystems on the planet, the coastal estuary. Marineland and University of Florida’s Whitney Lab for Marine Bioscience have partnered with Ripple Effect Ecotours to offer this fun ecological kayak tour. The tour departs from Whitney Lab at Marineland at 1:30 p.m. There is no previous experience required. The cost is $50 per person and includes kayak tour with photos and admission into the Marineland Dolphin Conservation Center. For more information or to make reservations, call 904.347.1565 or reserve online at www.RippleEffectEcotours.com.

NOTE: St. Johns County residents with a valid ID are always admitted free of charge to Government House Museum, the Lightner Museum, the Colonial Spanish Quarter Museum, the Fountain of Youth, the Ximenez-Fatio House, the Oldest Wooden Schoolhouse, and the Spanish Military Hospital Museum and the Father Miguel O’Reilly Museum. The daily tours and wine tastings at the San Sebastian Winery are free to everyone. Also, admission is free to everyone at the Authentic Old Drug Store, Fort Matanzas National Monument, St. Photios Chapel, the Peña-Peck House and the Father Miguel O’Reilly Museum.