Entertainment in St Augustine this week

Barbara Golden, Communications Manager for the St Augustine, Ponte Vedra and the Beaches Visitors and Convention Bureau, informed local Historic City News reporters about the following entertaining events for our St Johns County readers.

Monday through Sunday: March 18 – 24

Art Exhibit: Global Latitudes: Travels Near & Far – The St. Augustine Art Association hosts a visual travelogue of the places and diverse cultures lost and found on planet Earth. The gallery is located at 22 Marine St. and is open Tuesday through Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 2 to 5 p.m. Admission is free. http://www.staaa.org 904-824-2310

“Negro Y Blanco” Art Exhibit at Space Eight – Exhibition of black and white creations by artist Anthony Ausgang. Titled “Negro Y Blanco,” the exhibit takes place at the Space Eight Gallery, 228 W. King St., in St. Augustine. www.spaceeight.com 904-829-2838

Monday – Friday: March 18 – 22

“What Could Be” Exhibition – Artist Anna von Mertens’ What Could Be exhibition is on display at the Crisp-Ellert Art Museum, 48 Sevilla St., in St. Augustine. The artist meticulously translates empirical data about subjects as far ranging as energy in nuclear explosions to auras in historical paintings into paintings, hand-dyed and hand-stitched fabrics. The gallery will host the exhibition through April 12. Admission is free. Gallery hours are Mon. thru Fri. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Sundays noon to 4 p.m. www.flagler.edu/crispellert

Coalition for the Visual Arts Exhibition – The showcase of works of the Jacksonville Coalition for the Visual Arts will be displayed at The Cultural Center at Ponte Vedra Beach, 50 Executive Way, Ponte Vedra Beach. The gallery is free and open daily from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday. 904-280-0614 www.ccpvb.org

Tuesday: March 19

Carrere and Hastings Lecture – Architectural historian Laurie Ossman presents a lecture titled “Carrere & Hastings and the Reinvention of St. Augustine” at 7 p.m. in the Lewis Auditorium at Flagler College, 14 Grenada Street, St. Augustine. A Q&A session will follow. Admission is free. 904-829-8481

Friday, Saturday & Saturday: March 22, 23 & 24

St. Augustine Chalk Walk Festival

This St. Augustine 450th Anniversary event begins at 7 p.m. on Friday with a Chalk Walk party. Then, from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Saturday, more than 70 artists will use the 500-year old art form of chalking to express St. Augustine’s Spanish Colonial heritage on the sidewalks between the Historic Downtown Parking Facility and the Visitor Information Center at 10 West Castillo Dr. Cash prizes will be presented for the best sidewalk creations. This is a free event for people of all ages to participate and create. Sunday is a full day of public viewing ending with a sidewalk washing. www.staugustinechalkwalk.com

Saturday: March 23

Garden + History Tour of Washington Oaks Gardens – Washington Oaks Gardens State Park Ranger Dixon will share a stroll through the formal Gardens and provide the history of the Washington Oaks Historic District from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Ranger Dixon will share her passion about the various flowers, plants, and butterfly species that the park has to offer. Admission to the park is $5 per vehicle and $2 for pedestrians or bicyclists. The park is located at 6400 North Oceanshore Blvd., Palm Coast, FL. www.FloridaStateParks.org/

Spanish Garrison’s Grand Muster – St. Augustine’s Spanish Garrison conducts a colorful grand muster from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Activities and an encampment depicting 18th century Spanish military arts and garrison take place throughout the day at the Colonial Quarter and Castillo de San Marcos. At 8 p.m., the Garrison’s Torchlight Parade begins at the Castillo and ends at the Governor’s Palace on the Plaza. Visitors are invited to follow the parade. www.staugustinegarrison.com

Saturday & Sunday: March 23 & 24

Old Town Art & Craft Show – Celebrate spring at this juried art and fine craft show featuring outstanding artists and craftsmen from St. Augustine and around the country. Features the very best from exquisite jewelry to funky and functional pottery, abstract sculpture to glistening glass, hand-woven fashions to stunning photography, extraordinary paintings to wonderful wood carvings – and much more! Show hours are 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. both days. Held at Francis Field, 25 W. Castillo Dr., St. Augustine. Free admission. 904-794-0084 www.OldTownArtShow.com

Sunday: March 24

Blessing of the Fleet – In an annual event dating back to St. Augustine’s earliest history, watercraft from trawlers and yachts to sailboats and motor craft – all decorated with flags and bunting –receive this special blessing from the Bishop of the Diocese of St. Augustine. The ceremony begins at noon with a procession from the Cathedral Basilica along the Plaza de La Constitucionto the St. Augustine Municipal Marina. 904-824-9725 www.sayc2000.com

Local Resident Specials

St. Johns County residents with a valid ID are always admitted free of charge to the Oldest House, the Lightner Museum, the Fountain of Youth (special events excluded), the Ximenez-Fatio House, the Oldest Wooden Schoolhouse, Spanish Military Hospital Museum, and the Historic Tours of Flagler College. 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. Also, on the first Monday of each month, St. Johns County residents are admitted free to the Dow Museum of Historic Houses, 246 St. George Street, St. Augustine.