Three-day holiday weekend entertainment

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

Thursday-Sunday: September 2-5
ST. AUGUSTINE’S 445TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION
The birthday celebration gets underway on Thursday, September 2 in the town’s Plaza de la Constitucion. Free birthday cake will be distributed to everyone attending the free 7 p.m. Concert in the Plaza. Beginning on Friday and continuing through Sunday, the Fountain of Youth will feature an encampment with re-enactors portraying Timucuas and the Spanish soldiers and colonists who lived here during the early days of the city’s history. The re-enactments will begin each day at 9 a.m. The colorful and dramatic re-enactment of The Landing will begin at 10 a.m. on Saturday when Menendez will arrive by boat at Mission Nombre de Dios on San Marco Avenue, adjacent to the Fountain of Youth. The Spanish colonists landed along this shoreline in 1565. After the landing, Dr. Bonnie McEwan, director of Mission San Luis, will speak about the importance of Mission Nombre de Dios, the first mission established here by the Spaniards. Bishop Victor Galeone will conduct a Celebration Mass at the mission’s outdoor altar -on the grounds where Father Lopez performed mass on the day of the City of St. Augustine’s birth 445 years ago. Following mass, a procession of 16th century Spanish soldiers will carry the actual casket of Pedro Menendez in a solemn procession to its new home in the new Mission Nombre de Dios Museum. Bishop Galeone will provide a blessing and dedication ceremony for the new museum. All of these events are free and open to the public. For more information about the landing re-enactment at the museum, go to www.MissionandShrine.org or call 904.824.2809. On Saturday at 4:45 p.m., the First Thanksgiving will be re-enacted on the grounds of the Fountain of Youth. This well-documented event occurred on this site on September 8, 1565 when Timucuas and Spaniards shared their food in a Feast of Thanksgiving. The re-enactment will include a cooking contest with entries limited to ingredients that would have been readily available on that date at that location. The public will be invited to sample the entries. Admission to the Fountain of Youth is free for St. Johns County residents. For more information about the encampment and cooking contest, call 904.829.3168. Full details on all of the Birthday Celebration events can be found on the City of St. Augustine’s website www.staugustinesbirthday.com.

Friday: September 3

FIRST FRIDAY ART WALK
Enjoy the latest exhibits, music, entertainment and refreshments at over 20 participating galleries. 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

PARENTS’ NIGHT OUT
Let the staff at the St. Augustine Alligator Farm entertain your kids in a safe and educational environment while you enjoy a night on the town. From 6 to 10 p.m. kids will enjoy pizza, drinks, hands-on animal presentations, twilight zoo tour, a craft, nocturnal games and lots of fun! Open to kids ages 5-12. Tickets are $30 ($25 for members). For more information, call 904.824.3337.
CHANGE IN THE WIND
The Andrew Young Foundation will present the new documentary Change in the Wind at 7:30 p.m. in the Flagler College Auditorium, 14 Granada Street in St. Augustine. The film tells the little-known story of a secret friendship between Gone With the Wind author Margaret Mitchell and Dr. Benjamin E. Mays, former president of the traditionally black Morehouse College. The event is free and doors open at 7 p.m. For more information, call 904.819.6400.

ARTISTS AND ART CLASSES AT RIPLEY’S
Talk to local artists and even take an art class at Ripley’s Believe It or Not! in St. Augustine. During First Friday Art Walk, artist John Koehler will provide paints, brushes, canvasses and expert instruction for $45. Ripley’s offers free parking and the Art Walk Tour Train stops there for easy access to the complete tour throughout the city. For more information, call 904.824.1606.

SECOND NATURE EXHIBIT
As part of First Friday Art Walk, a new exhibit of works created by Flagler College art professor Donald Martin will open at the college’s Crisp-Ellert Art Museum. An opening reception will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. and the exhibit will be on display through September 17. For more information, call 904.826.8530.
Friday and Saturday: September 3-4
GOLDEN DRAGON ACROBATS AT ST. AUGUSTINE AMPHITHEATRE
Direct from Hebei, China, this acrobatic company has traveled to all 50 states and to over 65 countries on five continents. The Golden Dragons will perform each night at 7:30 p.m. at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre, located at 1340 A1A in St. Augustine. Tickets are $12 for adults and $6 for seniors & children under 12 years old. For more information, call 904.471.1965 or visit www.StAugAmphitheatre.com.

History and mystery book signing at Ripley’s
The history and the mystery of Ripley’s Castle Warden will be highlighted with a pair of book signings. Beginning at 4 p.m. on Friday, Karen Harvey, author of Oldest Ghosts – St. Augustine Haunts, will be signing copies of her latest book, St. Augustine Enters the Twenty-First Century. On Saturday, starting at 2 p.m., David Lapham, author of Ghosts of St. Augustine and Ancient City Haunts will be signing copies of his newest book, Ghosthunting Florida. The signings take place at the original Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Museum, 19 San Marco Avenue in St. Augustine. For more information, call 904.824.1606.

Saturday: September 4
GTM RESEARCH RESERVE NATURE WALK
Join GTM Research Reserve Volunteer Rick Edwards for this “Beaches 101” experience; an informative and fun walk and learn about the sand, the importance of the dunes, and the animals that call the beach their home. The walk departs at 8:30 a.m. from the Guana South Beach Parking area, located approximately 2 miles north of the Environmental Education Center on 505 Guana River Road at Ponte Vedra Beach South. Admission is $3 per vehicle. For more information call 904.823.4500.
SATURDAY IN THE PARK MUSIC FEST
Come spend a Saturday in the park listening to live music, enjoying art exhibits, tasting beer & wines, viewing vintage cars – there’s even a special kids zone. It all takes place from noon to 9 p.m. at Francis Field, located behind the Historic Downtown Parking Facility on Castillo Drive in St. Augustine. Admission is $3, children under 5 free. For more information, contact the Music & Arts Foundation of St. Augustine at 904.814.8010.
Sunday: September 5
TOBY KEITH IN CONCERT AT ST. AUGUSTINE AMPHITHEATRE
With 19 number one hits, Toby Keith is one of country music’s true megastars. Beginning at 7:15 p.m., see Toby’s American Ride Tour live on stage at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre. Ticket prices range from $40 to $87 with a special 2 tickets for $40 to sit in the Hell Raiser section. The St. Augustine Amphitheatre is located at 1340 A1A in St. Augustine. For more information, go to www.Staugamphitheatre.com.

Monday: September 6
LABOR DAY CONCERTS IN THE PLAZA
The St. Augustine Jazz Society performs a free concert from 1 to 5 p.m. in St. Augustine’s Plaza de la Constitucion. For more information, call 904.825.1004 or visit www.plazaconcerts.com.