Festival honors St Augustine Datil Pepper

St. Augustine Visitors and Convention Bureau Communications Director Jay Humphreys informed Historic City News reporters that in addition to a host of Halloween activities this weekend, the famous datil pepper will be honored during Sunday’s Datil Pepper Festival at the St. Johns County Agriculture Center.

New for the Month (daily October 1-31)

FLAVORS OF FLORIDA’S HISTORIC COAST

Bring your appetite to nearly 20 different restaurants that will present a “Chef’s Choice” prix fixe (fixed price) three-course meal reflecting their unique flavors and style. Great food, paired with a wide variety of lodging options and enticing cultural events, make October the perfect month to visit St. Augustine • Ponte Vedra on Florida’s Historic Coast. For more information on Flavors of Florida’s Historic Coast, participating restaurants and their menus, visit www.HistoricCoastFlavors.com.

ST. AUGUSTINE CITY WALKS HALLOWEEN AND SAMHAIN TOURS

Through the month of October, St. Augustine City Walks Tours will honor the historical and ancient origins of Halloween and Samhain, The Celtic New Year! Each of their tours, The St. Augustine Pub Crawl; The St. Augustine CREEPY Crawl; History, Mystery, Mayhem & Murder!; Savory Faire ~ A Food Tour with Taste!; and the Plaza Stroll, will celebrate the history and origins of Halloween’s modern day customs – Bonfires, The Jack-O-Lantern, Dressing Up in Costume, Trick or Treating and more! For more information, call 904.540.3476 or visit www.StAugustineCityWalks.com.

GHOSTS AND GRAVESTONES FRIGHTSEEING ADVENTURES

Explore the darker side of the Nation’s Oldest City. Visit the site of the terrible tragedy that occurred in 1873 at the St. Augustine Lighthouse and on these special October dates, Ghosts & Gravestones will include complimentary admission into Riot at the Old Jail, St. Augustine’s premier haunted house. Tours are from 8 to 10 p.m. Admission is $26 per Adult and $14 per Child (ages 6 – 12). Children 5 and under are not permitted. All tours depart from The Old Jail, 167 San Marco Avenue. For more information, call 904.829.3800 or visit www.ghostsandgravestones.com.

GHOSTLY HEARSE TOURS

Visit some of St. Augustine’s most haunted sites from the comfort of your very own hearse! Narrated hearse tours depart with departed souls each evening at 8:30 p.m. and 10:15 p.m, and a late-night weekend tour departs at 11:45 p.m. Tickets are $23.95 for adults and $12.95 for kids ages 5-12. If you’d prefer to stretch your legs, walking tours are only $8. For reservations, to purchase tickets online or for more information go to www.ghosthearse.com or you make your arrangements by calling 904.829.0576

PREMIUM OUTLETS PINK EVENT

Throughout the month, shoppers can visit the on-site Information Center at St. Augustine Premium Outlets to donate $10 to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure. In return, they will receive a special savings card filled with 25% off a single item offers from Brooks Brothers, Izod, J.Crew, Polo, Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger and more. For more information, visit www.premiumoutlets.com

Friday, Saturday and Sunday: October 21-23

LES LIAISIONS DANGEREUSE

Enjoy a performance of Christopher Hampton’s dramatic adaptation from the 1782 novel of the same title by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos. A classic drama, this play explores decadent sexuality, morals and manipulation played as the ultimate game with tragic results. This production is for mature audiences. Tickets are $15. Flagler College Auditorium is located at 14 Granada Street in St. Augustine. Show times are 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 2:30 p.m. on Sundays.

For more information, visit http://www.flagler.edu/calendars/Events/Events/summary/10/2011.

A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM
Enjoy this classic production at the Limelight Theatre. With music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, this family-friendly musical comedy tells the bawdy story of a slave named Pseudolus and his attempts to win his freedom by helping his young master woo the girl next door. Show times through October 23 are Thursday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m., Tickets are $25 for adults, $22 for seniors and $20 for students and active military. The Limelight Theater is located at 11 Old Mission Avenue in St. Augustine. For more information, call 904.825.1164 or visit www.Limelight-Theatre.org

EXPCON AT WORLD GOLF VILLAGE

Celebrate your love for video games, Japanese animation and comics at this huge event. Three full days of speakers, presentations, programs and more will be open to fans of all ages. There will even be a special game room for attendees. EXPCON takes place at the Renaissance Resort at World Golf Village in St. Augustine. Admission and program participation ranges from $35 to $100. For more information visit www.expcon.org .

GOLD CITY HISTORY TOURS

Ride in comfort and style with just seven other passengers on an all- electric shuttle bus while enjoying a narrated tour of the sites of St. Augustine. This tour goes where others cannot and is personalized to allow stops whenever requested. St. Augustine Gold Tours operate from the Old Drug Store car park on Orange Street. Tours are $15, children six and over $10. Special party bookings are also available by reservation. For more information, call 904.325.0547 or go to www.staugustinegoldtours.com

Friday and Saturday: October 21 & 22

FLORIDA’S HAUNTED TRAILS

Experience a hauntingly fun evening with the entire family at the Florida Agricultural Museum in Palm Coast. Activities include a haunted house, storytelling, magic shows, a haunted farm, wagon rides, carnival games and a headless horseman. It all takes place from 6 to 10 p.m. Admission is $8, children under 5 are free. Florida Agricultural Museum is located at the corner of Old Kings Road and US 1 in Palm Coast. For more information, call 386.446.7630, or visit www.MyAgMuseum.com.

Saturday and Sunday: October 22 & 23

MARVELS OF THE MARSH KAYAK TRIP

Experience amazing salt marshes with unique birds and possible sightings of dolphins, manatees & sea turtles on this 10 a.m. -noon kayak trip with St. Augustine Eco Tours!. New & experienced paddlers welcome! Call St. Augustine Eco Tours at 904-377-7245 or visit www.staugustineecotours.com to learn more.

Saturday: October 22

LOW TIDE BIKE RIDE AT ANASTASIA STATE PARK

Get a great cardio workout on one of the most awesome beaches in Florida. The 9 a.m. ride is a 3 ½ mile loop and includes an ecology talk at the point of Conch Island. Bring at least one pint of water, bicycle, snack, binoculars, and sunscreen. Bike rentals will be available. Admission to the park is $8 per vehicle, up to 8 people, $4 for single occupant admission, and $2 for pedestrians and bicyclists. Anastasia State Park is located on A1A on Anastasia Island in St. Augustine. For more information, call 904.461.2035, or visit www.floridastateparks.org/anastasia.

MARINELAND KAYAKING

Fun, conservation, and education collide with the most unique setting for kayaking in Northeast Florida at the Town of Marineland Marina. Participants can expect the best in kayaking equipment and professional naturalist guides while paddling throughout thousands of acres of coastal habitat only accessible by kayak- a fantastic escape from the hustle-bustle. This eco-educational experience is made possible through partnerships between Ripple Effect Ecotours, the Marineland Dolphin Adventure, and UF’s Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience. $55 per person includes free tickets to the Marineland Dolphin Adventure! Call (904)347-1565 or reserve online at www.RippleEffectEcotours.com

LEGENDS ON THE GREEN

Enjoy an elegant show of British cars presented by the Jaguar Car Club of North Florida. From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., cars will be displayed along the Walk of Champions located outside the World Golf Hall of Fame at World Golf Village. Admission is free. The Legends on the Green is open to all classic, contemporary and exotic British cars. The World Golf Hall of Fame is located miles north of historic St. Augustine off Interstate-95 at exit 323, International Golf Parkway. For more information, visit www.WorldGolfHallofFame.org

Sunday: October 23

DATIL PEPPER FESTIVAL

Attend this year’s Datil Pepper Festival and learn about the spicy little pepper that is part of St. Augustine’s epicurean history. Taste local dishes and purchase pepper products along with plants and garden décor. The fun all takes place from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the St. Johns County Agriculture Center, 3125 Agriculture Center Dr. For more information, call 904.209.0430.

NOTE: St. Johns County residents with a valid ID are always admitted free of charge to the Lightner Museum, the Fountain of Youth (special events excluded), the Ximenez-Fatio House, the Oldest Wooden Schoolhouse, and the Spanish Military Hospital 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 Pena-Peck House, the Father Miguel O’Reilly Museum and the Mission Nombre de Dios Museum.

For more information on events and activities, go to the Visitors and Convention Bureau website at www.FloridasHistoricCoast.com or call 1.800.653.2489.
Jay Humphreys, Communications Director
St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra and the Beaches Visitors and Convention Bureau
29 Old Mission Avenue, St. Augustine, FL 32084