Holiday weekend activities include Regatta

St. Augustine Visitors and Convention Bureau Communications Director Jay Humphreys has advised local Historic City News reporters that this weekend holds many entertaining and enjoyable activities — featuring brilliant lighted displays aboard a holiday regatta of vessels.

Friday: December 10
HOLIDAY WINE TASTING PARTY
Enjoy a fabulous holiday wine tasting party to benefit the Cultural Center and Ponte Vedra Beach. A $20 tax deductible donation provides a light appetizers and a wonderful selection of wines. The tasting is from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at The Augustine Grille in the Sawgrass Marriott Resort and Spa, 1000 PGA Tour Boulevard, Ponte Vedra Beach.

CUPCAKES AND CROCODILES
Help the St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park in their efforts to help citizens and wildlife devastated by October’s typhoon Megi. Donations are sought as part of “Cupcakes and Crocodiles: Helping People Help Crocodiles,” from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Park. Cupcakes and refreshments will be served, there will be an opportunity to touch a Philippine crocodile and a guided night tour through the park. For details, call 904.824.3337 x10.
Friday, Saturday & Sunday: December 10-12

G.I. HOLIDAY JUKEBOX AT LIMELIGHT THEATRE
Set during Christmas in World War II, four fictitious Hollywood stars put together a string of 1940s hits to entertain the boys at the front. The show takes place at Limelight Theatre, 11 Old Mission Avenue in St. Augustine. Show times thru January 9 are Wednesday through Saturday, 7:30 p. m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets are $25 for adults, $22 for seniors and $20 for students and military. For more information, call 904.825.1164 or visit www.limelight-theatre.org .

Friday and Saturday: December 10 -11

A BETHLEHEM VISIT LIVE NATIVITY
Celebrate the holidays by visiting a re-creation of the city of Bethlehem as it might have been on the night of Jesus’ birth. Ponte Vedra Presbyterian Church grounds is the sight where more than 200 costumed cast members will portray villagers, townspeople and merchants greeting visitors arriving to seek out the manger and the Christ child. There will also be caroling and a bonfire where hot chocolate and cookies are served to all. A Bethlehem visit takes place from 6 to 8:30 p.m. The admission is free, however, there is a $5 parking fee with free shuttles from the PGA Tour (TPC) parking lot located just west of A1A on Palm Valley Road.. Ponte Vedra Presbyterian church is located at 4510 Palm Valley Road in Ponte Vedra. For more information, go to www.pvpc.com or call 904.285.8225.

SANTA’S FAMILY FUN HOLIDAY VILLAGE
Visit Santa’s Village and Toy Workshop for holiday family fun in St. Augustine. Children will get to visit Santa’s workshop to make their own ornament, enjoy holiday treats and visit with the jolly old elf himself! Fun for kids of all ages, admission is $3 per child or free with the purchase of a Red Sightseeing Nights of Lights Train ticket. Santa’s Village takes place from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Sightseeing Trains Depot on the corner of Orange Ave, and Cordova Street. For more information, call 904.829.6545 or visit www.redtrains.com.

Saturday: December 11

PAWS AT THE PIER
Bring your pooch over to the St. Augustine Beach Pier for a day of canine fun all to benefit Canine Companions for Independence. Activities include a silent auction, vendors, art village, raffles, Frisbee dogs, a fundraising walk and more. It all takes place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at St. Augustine Beach Pier Park, located on A1A .For more information, visit www.pawsatthepier.org.

LIVING HISTORY DAY AT FORT MATANZAS
Soldiers re-enact cannon and/or musket firing along with daily life at this Spanish outpost. Cannon demonstrations will take place during the regularly scheduled tours except for the 9:30 am and the 4:40 pm tours. Fort Matanzas is located about 15 miles south of the historic district of St. Augustine, Florida. St. Augustine. For more information, call 904-471-0116 or visit http://www.nps.gov/foma.

HOLIDAY IN THE GARDENS
Bring the entire family to Washington Oaks State Park for a day of fun in the parks gardens. Kid’s activities at the “Holidays around the World Playground” include hands on arts and crafts, face painting, games and prizes from different cultures and a visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus. There will even be a gingerbread house contest, holiday shopping and plenty of food vendors. It all takes place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Washington Oaks State Park, 6400 North Ocean Boulevard in Palm Coast.

GUANA RIVER SUNSET KAYAK TOUR
Enjoy the sounds of birds and waves crashing on the beach paddling with the rhythms of nature while watching the sun set over the preserve. A certified Master Naturalist Instructor interprets the abundance of wildlife in one or Northeast Florida’s most natural wonders. The tour is from 4 to 6 p.m. and the cost is $55 per person. The tours depart form GTM Research Reserve, located on A1A North, between St. Augustine and Ponte Vedra. For more information, call 904.347.1565.

REGATTA OF LIGHTS
Beginning at 6 p.m., a holiday parade of boats including sailboats, trawlers, shrimp boats, and many other vessels featuring brilliant lighted displays ranging from patriotic to whimsical will light up St. Augustine’s Matanzas Bay between the Bridge of Lions and Castillo de San Marcos. Awards will be made for the best theme, most colorful, best in class, and best overall. The Regatta of Lights is sponsored by the St. Augustine Yacht Club. For more information, call 904.824.9725 or visit www.sayc2000.com.
Saturday and Sunday: December 11 & 12

17TH ANNUAL HOLIDAY TOUR OF BED AND BREAKFAST INNS
Tour St. Augustine’s historic Bed and Breakfast Inns, all decorated in Holiday finery. In addition to enjoying each Inn’s dazzling Christmas season displays, tour participants will enjoy taste treats provided by St. Augustine’s leading restaurants. The tour takes place from 1 to 5 p.m. each day; half of the inns welcome visitors on Saturday, and half on Sunday. Tickets are $25 in advance and $35 each after November 20. Proceeds from the Holiday Tour will go to local charities. For more information, visit www.staugustineinns.com.

HANDEL’S MESSIAH AND OTHER SEASONAL MUSIC
Enjoy the multitude of talent that the St. Augustine Community Choir presents in their annual performance of excerpts from Handel’s Messiah selections and other seasonal music. The concerts, conducted by Ted Mathews, and accompanied by the St. Augustine Children’s Choir, led by Kerry Fradely, take place at 8 p.m. on Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday at the Cathedral Basilica located 38 Cathedral Place in St. Augustine. Admission is $15 in advance and $20 at the door. Students with I.D. and children 12 and under are $5. For more information, visit www.StAugustineCommunityChorus.org.

Sunday: December 12

PILOT CLUB LUMINARIES
See Lightner Museum all aglow when the St. Augustine Pilot Club present hundreds of candlelit luminaries from 5 to 8 p.m. Join in singing traditional carols. This event is sponsored by and benefits the Pilot Club. For more information, call 904.824.2486.

BEACHES UNPLUGGED CONCERTS – CULTURAL CENTER AT PONTE VEDRA BEACH
Enjoy local musicians performing a variety of music live on stage at this program that is part of a 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, 50 Executive Way. For more information, call 904.280.0614 or visit www.ccpvb.org.

THE WIVES AND LIVES OF HENRY FLAGLER
Enjoy dinner and a lively production of this theatrical portrayal of the Flagler legacy. Following a specially prepared dinner by the chefs at Raintree Restaurant, this Limelight Theatre production cast of theatre veterans, Margaret Kaler, Dianne Jacoby, Darlene Jacobs, and Robert Gill, take the stage for what promises to be a stellar performance. Dinner is served at 6 p.m. and the show begins at 7 p.m. Tickets are $39.95. It all takes place at Raintree Restaurant, located at 102 San Marco Avenue in St. Augustine. For more information and tickets, call 904.825.1164