This Week in St. Johns County

Monday – Sunday: January 5 – 11

The First City through the Eyes of the Masters
This 450th Commemorative exhibition features St. Augustine-themed works from perhaps the best collection of Florida painters in the 19th and early 20th centuries. This includes the work of Frank Henry Shapleigh, who wintered at Henry Flagler’s Ponce de Leon Hotel from 1886 to 1887 and was the hotel’s resident artist from 1889 to 1892. The exhibition is uniquely displayed in a then and now format. Each early St. Augustine painting is accompanied by a current photograph of the exact same location and perspective for visitors to explore how America’s first city has changed throughout history. The exhibition also features a walking tour brochure that provides locations, descriptions and distances to all of the St. Augustine historical sites depicted in the exhibition’s artwork. Free admission. Open daily 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Located at the St. Augustine Visitors Information Center, 10 West Castillo Dr. www.StAugustine-450.com

World Golf IMAX Theatre – The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
“The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies” brings to an epic conclusion the adventures of Bilbo Baggins, Thorin Oakenshield and the Company of Dwarves. Having reclaimed their homeland from the Dragon Smaug, the Company has unwittingly unleashed a deadly force into the world. Tickets are Adults/$13; Military, Senior & Student/$12; Children E-tix/$10. Visit the website for showtimes at www.worldgolfimax.com or call (904) 940-4123. Located at One World Golf Place, St. Augustine.

Spanish El Galeon “Andalucia” in St. Augustine
The full-sized replica of a 16th century Spanish ship, El Galeon is open for tours at the St. Augustine Municipal Marina. Named Andalucia, it is an exact replica of the famous galleons that played such an important role in the creation and maintenance of the Spanish Empire. It is similar to the galleon that brought Pedro Menendez to Florida where he founded St. Augustine in 1565. The ship is available for tours from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. daily. Admission to El Galeon is $15 for adults; $10 for children 5-12 and free for those younger than 5. Veterans and St. Johns County residents receive a $2 discount per ticket. Located at 111 Avenida Menendez. Call (904) 824-1606 or visit www.elgaleon.org.

Nights of Lights
During Nights of Lights, nearly three million tiny white lights bring the glow of holiday magic to St. Augustine – from the ground to the rooftops. Selected by National Geographic in 2011 and 2012 as one of the ten best holiday lighting displays in the world. Holiday music, the lighting of the city’s Christmas tree and an exciting countdown add to the splendor of the lighting of this dazzling holiday light display. Tracing its origins to the Spanish tradition of displaying a white candle in the window during the Christmas holidays, the spectacular lighting reflects the city’s 449-year history and illuminates the beautiful setting for lasting holiday memories. The lights are displayed through February 1. www.floridashistoriccoast.com/nights

Nights of Lights Tours
There are numerous special Nights of Lights Tours offered through the Holiday Season. Special Trolley and Train tours, food tours, carriage rides, history tours, helicopter tours, electric car tours and more – all providing brilliant adventures to enhance the St. Augustine’s Nights of Lights experience. Nights of Lights Tours

Ongoing Special Tours
For a complete list of Nights of Lights, eco/kayak, food, history, and other tours taking place on Florida’s Historic Coast this week, visit things-to-do/sightseeing tours.

Tuesday:  January 6

River to Sea Preserve Trail Hike Marineland
Join other nature lovers from 9 – 10:30 a.m. on a guided walk by GTM Research Reserve volunteers, through the wooded hammock between the ocean and the Matanzas River. Learn about the bountiful native vegetation along the trail, observe signs of wildlife including the resident ospreys, and how Native Americans made use of plants for food and medicine. Meet the guide in the parking lot of the River to Sea Preserve located on the west side of A1A at the southern end of the town of Marineland. A directional “NERR” road sign will also be placed at the entrance. Be sure to wear comfortable, closed toe shoes. Reserve space on-line or by phone. Located at 9805 N. Oceanshore Blvd., Marineland. For more information, call (904) 823-4500 or visit www.gtmnerr.org.

Tuesday – Sunday:  January 6 – 11

St. Augustine Art Association’s Fantastic Florida!
Fantastic Florida runs through February 1 and celebrates the sights and structures, beaches, and byways, flora and fauna, history and happenings that are uniquely Florida. The gallery is open Tuesday – Saturday noon – 4 p.m. and Sunday 2 – 5 p.m. Admission is free. Located at 22 Marine St. St. Augustine. Call (904) 824-2310 or visit www.staaa.org.

Wednesday:  January 7

Farmer’s Arts and Crafts Market
Farmer’s Market located at the oceanside St. Johns County Pier Park featuring selections of fresh produce, plants, baked goods, fine art, jewelry and more! Open 8 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. rain or shine. Located at 350 A1A Beach Blvd., St. Augustine Beach. Call (904) 347-8007, for more information.

Lightner Museum Curator Tours
Lightner Museum curator provides a themed interactive tour designed to give participants an opportunity to see acquisitions in operation rather than just as static displays. The tour, which is included in admission, takes place at 10 a.m. on the second floor of Lightner Museum. Regular admission is $10 adults; $6 for active duty military; $5 college student and youth ages 12-18; under 12 are free. Located at 75 King St., St. Augustine. For more information, call (904) 824-2874 or visit www.lightnermuseum.org.

Thursday: January 8

Author Pat Conroy Headlines Southern Author Event
New York Times bestselling author Pat Conroy headlines an evening of author presentations at Flagler College’s Lewis Auditorium. Conroy is the author of such popular best sellers as The Prince of Tides, The Great Santini and Beach Music. This unique fundraising event for the Florida Heritage Book Festival also includes South Carolina author Bernie Schein and two Florida authors, Janis Owens and Mark Powell. The authors will discuss their work and state of Southern literature. The event begins at 7 p.m. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. Located at 14 Granada St., St. Augustine. For more information, call (904) 940-0194 or visit www.fhbookfest.com.

Thursday – Sunday: January 8 – 11

Siege at St. Augustine: SASS Florida State Cowboy Action Shooting Championship
The Florida SASS State Championship will take place at the Ancient City Shooting Range.  Events include a black powder match, cowboy fast draw and side matches, safety meetings and several other shooting-style matches. Siege at St. Augustine is a SASS-sanctioned state championship. Located at 3021 Agricultural Center Dr., St. Augustine. siegeatstaugustine.com

Friday: January 9

First Coast Opera Concert: Don Giovanni
The First Coast Opera will perform based on the story of Don Juan and set in the picturesque town of Seville, Spain at 7:30 p.m. in the Lewis Auditorium at Flagler College. Ticket are $35 reserved seating. Located at 14 Granada St., St. Augustine. Call (904) 417-5555 or visit www.firstcoastopera.com.

Celebrate Art 2015: 9th Annual Juried Artist Member Exhibition
The Cultural Center at Ponte Vedra Beach hosts the 9th Annual Juried Artist Member Exhibition. All media are featured in this showcase of member creations. Admission to the gallery is free and open 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Located at 50 Executive Way, Ponte Vedra Beach. For more information, call (904) 280-0614 or visit www.ccpvb.org.

Saturday:  January 10

Old City Farmers’ Market
Features locally grown fresh produce, baked goods, plants and more. Located at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre, 1340 A1A, St. Augustine. Open 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Admission is free. For more information, call (904) 471-3733.

GTM Reserve Guided Trail Hike
Join GTM Research Reserve volunteers from 8:30 – 10:30 a.m. for a 1.5 mile guided walk through the Guana Trail. After the walk, visit the GTM Research Reserve Environmental Education Center (EEC). There is a $3 parking fee. Located at 505 Guana River Rd., Ponte Vedra Beach. Call (904) 823-4500 or visit gtmnerr.org.

Bird Walk at Fort Matanzas
The National Park Service presents a two-hour bird walk designed to explore Florida’s coastal ecology. The walk is 9:30-11:30 a.m. and starts at the Fort Matanzas Visitor Center. Bring bug spray, binoculars and closed-toe shoes. The Bird Walk is appropriate for all ages. Theres is no charge to visit the park or to participate in the walk. Fort Matanzas National Monument is located at 8635 A1A, approximately 15 miles south of St. Augustine. For more information, call (904) 471-0116 or visit www.nps.gov.

City Walks Pet Friendly Tours
Bring Fido to join City Walks for a free Pet Friendly Tour of St. Augustine’s Historic District. The tour departs at 10 a.m. from Tour Saint Augustine’s office. Pets must be leashed, and reservations are required. Located at 4 Granada St., St. Augustine. Call (904) 825-0087 or visit www.staugcitywalks.com.

Torchlight Tours at Fort Matanzas National Monument
Spanish re-enactors conduct spectacular nighttime firings of two six-pounder reproduction cannons. Tours will depart by ferry from the Fort Matanzas Visitor Center dock at 6:00, 6:45, 7:30 and 8:15 p.m. Tickets must be purchased in advance at the Castillo de San Marcos Ticket Booth or by phone. The cost is $8 per person; children 6-15 $4; children 5 and under are free. Located at 8635 A1A South, St. Augustine. For more information, call (904) 829-6506 x232 or visit www.nps.gov.

Sunday: January 11

The Rat Pack and “It Was A Very Good Year” by Tony Sands
Tony Sands presents his musical tribute to Frank Sinatra featuring the songs that made “Ol’ Blue Eyes” one of America’s greatest entertainers. Performance at the Pioneer Barn at Fort Menendez starts at 5 p.m. and tickets are $20 general admission. Located at 259 San Marco Ave. St. Augustine. Call (904) 824-8874 or visit oldfloridamuseum.com.

NOTE: St. Johns County residents with a valid ID are always admitted free of charge to the Oldest House, the Lightner Museum, the Ximenez-Fatio House, the Oldest Wooden Schoolhouse, City Walks History Mystery Murder Evening Tour, and the Hotel Ponce de Leon Legacy Tours at Flagler College. The daily tours and wine tastings at the San Sebastian Winery and St. Augustine Distillery are free to everyone. Also, admission is free to everyone at the Fort Matanzas National Monument, St. Photios Chapel, the Pena-Peck House, the Father Miguel O’Reilly Museum and the Mission Nombre de Dios Museum (donations are welcomed). Many other local attractions offer discounted admissions to St. Johns County residents with valid ID.

For more information on events and activities in St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra & The Beaches, visit the Visitors and Convention Bureau website at www.floridashistoriccoast.com or call 1-800-653-2489.