Local entertainment this weekend

St. Augustine Visitors and Convention Bureau Communications Director Jay Humphreys informed Historic City News that although the Amphitheatre performance Friday night is sold out, there are many other entertainment choices this weekend.

Friday: August 19

NATURE FILM AT THE ST. AUGUSTINE ART ASSOCIATION GALLERY

Created especially for St. Augustine, by Elam Stoltzfus, a top PBS nature documentary producer, this film will be shown from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the St. Augustine Art Association Gallery, located at 22 Marine Street. Admission is free but reservations are required. For more information, call 904.824.2310 or visit www.staaa.org .

ALISON KRAUSS & UNION STATION AT ST. AUGUSTINE AMPHITHEATRE

SOLD OUT! Experience Alison Krauss & Union Station’s Paper Airplane Summer Tour 2011 at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre. The performance will begin at 8 p.m. Tickets are $69.50, $49.50, $39.50, & $29.50. The St. Augustine Amphitheatre is located at 1340 A1A South. For more information, call 904.471.1965, or visit www.staugamphitheatre.com .

Friday, Saturday and Sunday: August 19-21

SECOND SAMUEL AT LIMELIGHT THEATRE
Enjoy this touching comedy about life and friendship in the rural town of Second Samuel. Show times 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 .

El CONQUISTADOR THRILL RIDE

Go for a thrilling, high-speed, one-hour ride across Matanzas Bay aboard El Conquistador, St. Augustine’s newest thrill ride. Narrated tour features history, speed and fun aboard this powerful speedboat. El Conquistador departs from the City Marina’s Slip 73. Tickets are $39.50 for adults and $29.50 for children (ages 4-12). Free for active duty military. Special rates for groups of eight or more. For safety reasons, children under four and pregnant women are not allowed onboard. For information and reservations, go to www.elconspeedboat.com or call 904.738.4695.

MURDER MYSTERY DINNER THEATER

Experience the first theater on St. Augustine’s St. George Street since a terrible fire destroyed the Genovar Opera House in 1914. The St. Augustine Murder Mystery Theatre features a great meal and exciting live entertainment at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $43.15 each. For more information, call 904.671.2508 or go to www.StAugustineMurderMysteryDinnerTheater.com.

YACHT OF FUN

Have a captain and a fun-equipped 22-foot boat at your service from dawn to dusk! Yacht of Fun takes up to six people on a full day of whatever passengers prefer – fishing, swimming, stopping at waterfront restaurants, sunning – you name it. The boat leaves from St. Augustine and offers the perfect way to spend a day. The rate is $60 per person for a party of six. For more information, go to www.yachtoffun.net or call Cap’n Mike at 352.246.3836

MUSIC AT SARA’S CREPES CAFÉ

Enjoy delicious crepes in an Old World setting while experiencing great live music all weekend. Friday from 7-11 p.m., enjoy the smooth vocals, guitar and harmonica of Wendy Kissinger; Saturday from 3-6 p.m., it’s Maja & Gitana,the dynamic duet blending violin and acoustic guitar while singing Latin, Gypsy and Jazz music. Saturday from 7-11 p.m. and Sunday 6-9 p.m., it’s the Groov Band. Sara’s Crepes Café is located at 100 St. George Street on the corner of Hypolita and Spanish Streets in St. Augustine. For more information, call 904.810.5800.

BEACH HORSEBACK RIDING

Experience the fun and excitement of horseback riding at the edge of the sea. Country Carriages offer daily one-hour rides (weather and tides permitting) from Surfside Park on Vilano Beach. The cost is $75 per person. For reservations (a must) and more information, call 904.826.1982.

Saturday: August 20

BACK2SCHOOL BEACH FEST

Get ready to start a new school year at this family-friendly event that promotes clean beaches, healthy lifestyles and fun at the beach. From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., between the Matanzas Avenue and Mary Street beach access ramps, there will be a beach clean-up, one mile fun run and free surfing lessons. At 3 p.m., there will be an Oceans Expo at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre with live music, environmental education booths, local arts and crafts vendors, a bounce house and interactive kid activities. The all-day event concludes at the Amphitheatre with a series of movie screenings including short surfing features at 6:30 p.m. and a 7:30 p.m. showing of the feature film Turtle: the Incredible Journey. The event is presented by the Friends of the St. Augustine Amphitheatre and the St. Johns County Cultural Events and Beach Services divisions. For more information, call 904.209.0367.

GOODE LIFE SCHOLARSHIP FUNDRAISER AT PIER

Show you’re well-balanced in the stand-up paddle board competition or take your team to the top in the volleyball tournament while raising scholarship funds for deserving St. Augustine High School seniors. Held at the Pier Pavilion in St. Augustine Beach, The Goode Life Education Foundation will present a full-day of exciting activities. The scholarship fund will receive 90 percent of the proceeds and the remainder will go to the ARC Therapeutic Learning Center. For more details, go to http://goodelife.beep.com /2011eventspage.htm or call 904.599.7503.

Saturday and Sunday: August 20 & 21

PGA TOUR GOLF ACADEMY CLINICS

Focus on the building blocks of a consistent swing at one-hour clinics presented by the PGA TOUR Golf Academy at World Golf Village. Cost is $20 per person. For more information, call 904.940.3600 or visit www.touracademy.com .

ECO KAYAKING

Learn to kayak & experience amazing salt marshes with unique birds and possible sightings of dolphins, manatees & sea turtles! 10:00AM-12:00PM. $40 per adult paddler, $35 for kids. Fantastic guides & brand new equipment ensure beginner or advanced paddlers will enjoy this excursion! Call St. Augustine Eco Tours at 904-377-7245 or visit www.staugustineecotours.com to learn more.

CARNIVAL FOR A CAUSE AND GOLF TOURNAMENT FUNDRAISER

Have fun, play golf on a great course and help raise funds for 6-month old Palin Rose Meyer who is afflicted with a very rare condition call Prader-Willi Syndrome. On Saturday from 5-8 p.m., the Renaissance World Golf Village Resort will feature a dinner under the direction of the resort’s Executive Chef Brett Smith, fun carnival games, face painting, a silent-auction, DJ, raffles and prizes. Tickets are $25 for adults, $8 for children ages 4-12; and free for children age 3 and under. On Sunday, the Resort will host a golf fundraiser for Palin on the Slammer and Squire championship golf course. The tournament begins at 3 p.m. and is priced at $69 per person. The Renaissance is located at I-95 exit 323 in St. Augustine. For more information, tickets and participation in the golf tournament, go to www.palinrose.org or call 904.940.8646.

Sunday: August 21

SLIGHTLY STOOPID PERFORMS

Following in the footsteps of Sublime, Slightly Stoopid has created a blend of rock, reggae, and hip hop that is like candy for surf & beach communities. Gates open at 5 p.m. and the show starts at 6 p.m. The St. Augustine Amphitheatre is located at 1340 A1A South in St. Augustine. Tickets are $35.00 in Advance, & $40.00 day of show. For more information, call 904.471.1965 or visit www.StAugAmphitheatre.com .

MURDER IN THE OLDE CITY

St. Augustine’s Raintree Restaurant and the Limelight Theatre are teaming up to bring patrons the acclaimed murder mystery, “Murder in the Olde City”! Set in 1880’s St. Augustine, this powerful tale of murder, scandal, love, and deceit is presented in an entertaining ‘you are there’ style of staging. Based on a true story of love, hate, and revenge in the year 1886, and told with a seamless combination of history, theatre, and storytelling, the audience becomes the jury! Featuring a sumptuous sit-down dinner and professional performers in full period attire, this promises to be the hit of the season! Tickets are $35 per person all inclusive, with adult beverages also served separately. Dinner will be served at the Raintree Restaurant (102 San Marco Avenue) at 7 p.m. with the show to follow at 8 p.m. Tickets can be purchased in advance at the Limelight Theatre (11 Old Mission Avenue). Please call 904.825.1164 for reservations, or 904.347.5103 for more information.

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