Upcoming festivals in St Augustine

Historic City News readers look forward to the spring each year for perfect outdoor weather and a wealth of celebrations, festivals and local award-winning events including the Celtic Music and Heritage festival, Rhythm & Ribs Festival, Romanza, and the St Augustine Seafood Festival.

3rd Annual St. Augustine Film Festival
January 17-20: The 3rd Annual St. Augustine Film Festival will take place January 17-20 on the Flagler College campus an in Epic Theatres. The four-day event will feature 19 films from Spain, Greece, Germany, France, Cameroon, India and the United States. There are six comedies, four thrillers, one musical, one dance film, two 3D animated films for kids, two documentaries and one skateboard film. Go to fliff.com.

Sea Your History Weekend
January 18-19: The St. Augustine Lighthouse & Museum will present the next Sea Your History Weekend on January 18-19. All ages are invited as the Lighthouse welcomes Betsy Bowers, Deputy Director of Museum Education at the Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center. Everyone can go beyond the ordinary and be a part of history. The weekend kicks off from 3 to 6 p.m. Friday, January 18 with the Lost Ships Tour. Stories unfold as participants and archaeologists explore the artifacts of the Lost Ships of St. Augustine while your children experience how and why their history matters with Betsy Bowers. At 9 a.m. January 19, The Lighthouse’s master boat builder will share the techniques and history of traditional wooden boatbuilding. The adventure continues with interactive, hands-on activities lead by Bowers. A program called Enjoying Objects and Artifacts with Children will begin at 11 a.m. January 19. For tickets, go to www.staugustinelighthouse.org/events/sea-your-history.

Winter Fest 2013
January 18-19: First Coast Technical College’s School of Culinary Arts and the American Culinary Federation (ACF) presents Winter Fest. Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. both days on the FCTC main campus, 2980 Collins Ave., St. Augustine. Cost is $10 per person each day and includes lunch. Email info@fctc.edu or call 904-547-3461.

Arbor Day
January 18: The City of St. Augustine will commemorate Arbor Day at 11 a.m. January 18 at the Hamilton Upchurch Park, at the intersection of Anastasia Boulevard and Red Cox Drive. The brief ceremony starts at 11 a.m. and the public is invited to attend. As is the tradition, the ceremony will include the planning of a tree by city officials, presentations by the city’s Street Tree Advisory Committee, and musical selections from kindergarten students from R. B. Hunt Elementary School. And, as is also a standing tradition, the ceremony will conclude with Smokey Bear assisting in the distribution of a variety of saplings to all in attendance. This year’s giveaway trees are River Birch, Live Oaks and Red Cedars. In addition, free tree seedlings will be given away by the St Johns County Master Gardeners on January 18 at several local libraries including Hastings library, Bartram Trail Branch, Southeast Branch, Bird Island Park at Ponte Vedra library (in the park) and at Walgreens near World Golf Village. This year’s trees are American Hornbeam, Pecan, Southern Magnolia, Chickasaw Plum, and the Shumard Oak. The giveaway starts at 8:30 a.m. and lasts until trees are gone. The free events are open to the public.

MARTIN LUTHER KING Day
January 21: A MARTIN LUTHER KING march and 5k will help celebrate Martin Luther King Day in St. Augustine. The Dreamers to Doers 5k Race begins with registration at 7 a.m. at the Willie Galimore Center, 399 Riberia St. The race will begin at 8 a.m. and will go through the Lincolnville area. The event will benefit St. Paul School of Excellence. Email mdavis@SPSchoolofExcellence or call 904-829-9910. In addition, the MARTIN LUTHER KING March will leave at 11:30 a.m. January 21 from the Boys and Girls Club, 555 West King St. At. 11:45 a.m., marchers will leave St. Paul AME Church, 85 M. L. King St., marching toward downtown. The two groups will meet at Cordova and King Streets and will proceed to the Plaza de la Constitucion in downtown St. Augustine. Rabbi Mark Goldman will address the crowd and local churches will bring praise dancers. The events are open to the public.

Matanzas 5000 33rd Annual 5K & Fun Run
January 26: The 33rd Annual Matanzas 5000 5K and Fun Run will begin at 9 a.m. at Francis Field, 29 W. Castillo Drive; with the Fun Run to begin at 10:15 a.m. from Project Swing at Francis Field. The run continues downtown along the historic bayfront. An awards ceremony will follow the race. Registration is $20 in advance through January12; $25 January 13 through January 25; and $30 the day of the race. Go to www.ancientcityrr.org, www.matanzas5k.com or call 904-461-1615.

Flight to Freedom at Fort Mose Historic State Park
February 9: The Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Fort Mose Historic State Park will celebrate the first legally sanctioned, free African settlement in what is now the United States during Black History Month from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. February 9 at the park, 15 Fort Mose Trail, from U.S. 1 North. Re-enactors in period clothing will tell the story of the founding of Fort Mose. In addition, Florida Living History Inc. will perform Colonial Spanish military drills and provide demonstrations of musket and cannon firing throughout the day. The event also will include a cooking demonstration, an exhibit on Native Indians and various exhibits, performances and food vendors. Museum entry fee is $2 per person. For event details, call 904-823-2232. Go to www.FloridaStateParks.org/FortMoseHistoricStatePark.

Cathedral Festival
February 22-24: The 28th Annual Cathedral Festival will be held in February this year. Last year’s event was held in April, but it will be back on the grounds of the Mission of Nombre de Dios February 22 through February 24. The 2010 event was in February as well. A fireworks show will light up the sky at 9 p.m. Saturday, February 23 over the water near the grounds. A midway will feature dozens of thrill rides. Other activities include live music, bingo, kids’ games, a treasure sale and more. The food will include fair favorites, wine and beer, and the annual shrimp dinner on Sunday, February 24. A silent auction will begin at noon Sunday, February 24, featuring gift baskets, gift certificates, vacation packages, sports memorabilia, art, jewelry and other items from area businesses and the community. Go to thecathedralfestival.com.

Seafood Festival
March 1-3: St. Augustine Seafood Festival is sponsored by the St. Augustine Lions Club, hosted each year at Francis Field, 29 W. Castillo Drive. This year’s event will feature headliner The Kickin Grass Band, performing Americana music. Seafood, arts and crafts, a kid’s zone, and live music also will be featured. Go to www.lionsfestival.com for more details.

Celtic Music & Heritage Festival
March 9-10: Floats, marching bands, pipes and drums, horse drawn carriages and military units — the third annual St. Augustine St. Patrick’s Day parade will begin at 10 a.m. March 10 at Francis Field, 29 W. Castillo Drive. The Celtic Music & Heritage Festival is a two-day event at Francis Field will feature traditional Irish music, contemporary Celtic rock, Scottish pipes and drums and Highland Games’ athletes. This festival honors St. Augustine’s Celtic history and heritage dating back to its founding in 1565. For details or to register for the parade, go to www.celticstaugustine.com.

Paseo Pastel – St. Augustine Chalk Walk
March 22-24: The St. Augustine Regional Council (StAR Council) has created a first time event to support the city’s 450th commemoration: The first Paseo Pastel – St. Augustine Chalk Walk is scheduled for March 22-24. The Tourist Development Council grants panel for bed tax monies allocated a major grant to support marketing for the St. Augustine Chalk Walk to communities outside St. Johns County. Chalk Festivals traditionally provide revenue to the local economy, fill up hotel rooms, build community and become creative local and regional events. Businesses and individuals are encouraged to sponsor this chalking or the street painter’s event which will celebrate St. Augustine’s heritage with the cultural traditions of a 500 year Italian art form. Free to the public, an estimated 15 to 20,000 visitors are expected to attend. The St. Augustine Regional Council, formed by local business men and women, has a mission to encourage people to move to St. Augustine. For artist registration or sponsorship information, go to www.staugustinechalkwalk.com.