Datil Pepper Festival this weekend

St. Augustine Visitors and Convention Bureau Communications Director Jay Humphreys reported some great entertainment ideas for Historic City News readers to enjoy this weekend.

Friday: October 22
WOMAN’S EXCHANGE FALL GARDEN LUNCHEON
Enjoy a beautiful garden setting while savoring a delectable luncheon meal prepared by the St. Augustine Woman’s Exchange. After lunch shop in the Exchanges’ famous Christmas in October Shop! Tickets are $20 per person and include the full lunch with coffee or tea and a $5 gift certificate for the Woman’s Exchange Gift Shop. The luncheon takes place from noon to 1:30 p.m. Guided tours of the Pena Peck House, located at 143 St. George Street in St. Augustine, are available at regular admission. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 904.829.5064 or visit http://www.staugustinewomans-exchange.com.

Friday, Saturday & Sunday: October 22-24
ANTIGONE
Experience a one-of-a-kind performance based on the original translation of Sophocles’ immortal Antigone as performed by Flagler College’s Theatre Arts Department. Antigone will be performed at the Flagler College Auditorium, 14 Granada Street in St. Augustine on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and on Sunday at 2 p.m. The final performances will take place at the same times on October 29-31. Tickets are $10. The Box Office is open between the hours of noon and 5 p.m., Monday-Friday. Call (904) 826-8600 for more information.

Friday and Saturday: October 22-23
FLORIDA’S HAUNTED TRAILS AT FLORIDA AGRICULTURAL MUSEUM
Bring the whole family for a kind of scary but really fun evening at the Florida Agricultural Museum. There will be haunted houses, story tellers, a haunted farm, pony & wagon rides, and carnival games for kids. There will even be an appearance by the Headless Horseman. It all takes place this weekend and next weekend from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Florida Agricultural Museum grounds, located 17 miles south of St. Augustine on the corner of Old Kings Road and U.S. Highway One in Palm Coast. Admission is $8 for the general public and $6 for members. For more information call 386.446.7630 or visit www.MyAgMuseum.com.

Saturday and Sunday: October 23 & 24
COMPASSION FOR FASHION
Shop for a good cause at St. Augustine’s Premium Outlets. In cooperation with the Donna Foundation, the Premium Outlets will provide special discount cards and chances to win fabulous prizes to each shopper who donates $10 or more to the Donna Foundation to assist them in continuing their mission of caring for women living with breast cancer on the First Coast. Registration to participate is from opening until 6 p.m. each day. For more information, call 904-825-1555 or go to www.premiumoutlets.com/staugustine

Saturday: October 23
WASHINGTON OAKS BIKE TOUR
Celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Florida Park Service with a guided bike tour through the cultural history of the grounds and gardens of Washington Oaks State Park. Bring your own bike, helmet and drinking water. The tour departs at 10:30 a.m. from the Garden parking lot. The cost of the tour is included in the regular admission of $5 per vehicle with up to eight passengers; $4 for single-passenger vehicles and $2 per bicyclist. Washington Oaks State Park is located at 6400 North Oceanshore Boulevard (A1A) in Palm Coast. For more information, call 386. 446-6783.

DATIL PEPPER FESTIVAL
Come learn about the spicy little pepper that is a great part of St. Augustine’s epicurean history. Taste local dishes and purchase pepper products along with plants and garden décor when top chefs representing St. Augustine’s restaurants will gather at the St. Johns County Fairgrounds to compete in this year’s Datil Pepper Cook-Off Contest. The Datil pepper has been used in St. Augustine since the 1800s, especially by the Minorcan community in many traditional local dishes such as chowder, pilau, hot sauces, and jellies. The fun all takes place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the St. Johns County Fair Grounds, SR 207 in Elkton. For more information call 904.209.0430.

OKTOBERFEST CELEBRATION
Celebrate Oktoberfest with German beer, wine, food and entertainment! The festivities take place from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Ponte Vedra Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Center located at 50 A1A North, Ste. 102, Ponte Vedra Beach. Tickets are $25 per person. For more information, call 904.285.2004 or visit www.pontevedrachamber.org.

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 7:30 to 9 p.m. at the St. Augustine Lighthouse located at 81 Lighthouse Avenue in St. Augustine. The fee is $25 for non-museum members and $20 for members. www.staugustinelighthouse.com. For reservations, call Pam at 904.829.0745.

FIRST COAST OPERA – CABARET AMERICANA
Enjoy this delightful operatic performance by some of the most talented vocalists on Florida’s Historic Coast. The cabaret format features works by American composers including John Philip Sousa, Leonard Bernstein, Cole Porter, George and Ira Gershwin, and Richard Rodgers. The performance of Cabaret Americana takes place at 7:30 p.m. at the Marsh Creek Country Club 169 Marshside Drive, off SR 3 in St. Augustine Beach. Advance tickets to all performances are $20 each and $25 at the door. For tickets and more information, call 904.417.5555 or visit http://www.firstcoastopera.com.

Sunday: October 24
BEACHES UNPLUGGED CONCERTS
Enjoy local musicians performing a variety of music live on stage at this program that is part of the series of free community concerts in Ponte Vedra. The concert takes place from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Cultural Center at Ponte Vedra Beach, located at 50 Executive Way in Ponte Vedra Beach. For more information, call 904.280.0614 or visit www.ccpvb.org.

Daily in October!
FLAVORS OF FLORIDA’S HISTORIC COAST: Throughout the month of October, more than 20 outstanding restaurants in St. Augustine, St. Augustine Beach and Ponte Vedra will be offering special Prix Fixe (fixed-priced) menus featuring luncheon and dinner specials that showcase their special culinary flair. For details on participating restaurants, as well as their Prix Fixe menus, go to www.HistoricCoastFlavors.com .