This Week in St. Johns County

Monday – Sunday, October 12 – 18

Steven Dean Anderson Exhibit at Villa Zorayda
See the extraordinary art created by visually-impaired artist Steven Dean Anderson, an artist with unique vision. His art features St Augustine’s architectural history and celebrates the city’s 450th birthday. Plus, it marks the first time an artist has exhibited in the Villa Zorayda museum since its founding in 1933. The exhibit runs through October 31 and is included in the regular admission of $10 for adults; $4 for children. Located at 83 King St., St. Augustine. For more information, call (904) 829-9887 or visit www.villazorayda.com.

Obelisk Art 450
A temporary, international public art initiative of Compassionate St. Augustine, Obelisk Art 450 pays tribute to the 450th anniversary of the nation’s oldest city in 2015 and promote a legacy of compassion. This very first St. Augustine public arts exhibit features 25 artistically interpreted 8.5-foot tall obelisk replicas of the Monumento a la Constitución on St. Augustine’s Plaza de la Constitucion. Each of the 25 renowned artist’s obelisks demonstrates a storyline and the four foundational values to the monument originally dedicated in 1813: Freedom, Democracy, Human Rights and Compassion. Each obelisk will be located at a site in St. Augustine that related to the artist’s interpretation. For more details and obelisk descriptions and locations, visit compassionstaugustine.org.

Flagler College Gilded Age Fashion Exhibit
Join our tour to see a small recreated collection of men’s and women’s clothing from the beginning of the Gilded Age period. The exhibit is included in the $10 price of the daily Flagler College Legacy Tours at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Flagler College is located at 74 King St., St. Augustine. For more information, call (904) 823-3378 or visit www.flagler.edu.

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

Monday – Friday, October 12 – 16

“From Nature” Art Exhibit at The Cultural Center at Ponte Vedra Beach
The Ponte Vedra Cultural Center presents “From Nature,” an exhibition featuring artists David Engdahl and Mary Williamson. Their works of art will be on display Mon.-Fri. 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. through October 23. Admission is free. Located at 50 Executive Way, Ponte Vedra Beach. For more information, call (904) 280-0614 or visit www.ccpvb.org.

Edgar Endress, “Finding Baroque” Exhibit at Crisp Ellert Gallery
This collaborative project between Flagler students and artist Edgar Endress (Associate Professor of Art, George Mason University) considers Spanish colonization in Florida, specifically the implementation of Baroque as the mechanism of cultural and religious dominance in the Spanish colonies. The project researches the Baroque through the icons of the historical dominant culture in St. Augustine. These visual and verbal forms are dynamic, porous, and permeable, incorporating the cultural perspectives and iconographies of the indigenous and African laborers and artisans who built and decorated Catholic structures. The exhibit is open during regular museum hours, Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free. Located at 48 Sevilla Street, St. Augustine. www.flagler.edu

Tuesday – Sunday,October 13 – 18

St. Augustine Art Association’s Tactile Art Show
Produced in association with the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind, this show features “touchable” art that is appealing and engaging for the blind and visually-impaired. This juried exhibition will be on display through November 1 and includes sculpture, assemblages, pottery, fiber art, reliefs, wall hangings and mixed media with Braille tablets and selected audio guides. 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. For more information, call (904) 824-2310 or visit www.staaa.org.

Ripley’s Skeleton Scavenger Hunt
Find and photograph 11 skeletons placed throughout downtown St. Augustine by Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Upload the images to Ripley’s St. Augustine Facebook page, and become eligible to win prizes at a drawing on October 31. The skeletons are visible from the street at business locations near the Ripley’s Red Train route (maps available throughout the downtown area). www.ripleys.com

Wednesday, October 14

Music by the Sea
Every Wednesday evening through October 18 from 7 to 9 p.m. Music by the Sea live concerts take place in the beautiful oceanfront setting at The St Johns County Pier Park. This week’s performer is The Hackers. Dinners priced $10 or less from Sunset Grille are available on site. Located at 350 A1A Beach Blvd in St Augustine Beach. www.thecivicassociation.org

Noah Gundersen Concert
Indie folk singer/songwriter Noah Gundersen performs at 8 p.m. at St. Augustine’s Colonial Quarter. His album Ledges, Carry the Ghost, earned rave reviews from NPR’s World Cafe and CBS’ Saturday Morning. Tickets are $15, general admission, standing room only. Located at 33 St. George Street. Call (904) 209-0367 or visit www.staugamphitheatre.com.

The Winery Dogs at Ponte Vedra Concert Hall
Classic Hard Rock trio The Winery Dogs perform at the Ponte Vedra Concert Hall. Vocalist and guitarist Richie Kotzen made his mark with Poison and Mr. Big; Billy Sheehan has been rocking for decades with Steve Val, David Lee Roth and Mr. Big; and drummer Mike Portnoy was the co-founder of metal superstars Dream Theater. The concert begins at 8 p.m. (door open at 7 p.m.) Tickets for this standing room only show are $27 in advance; $30 day of show. Located at 1050 A1A North, Ponte Vedra Beach. For more information, call (904) 209-0367 or visit www.pvconcerthall.com.

Thursday- Sunday, October 15 – 18

Ring of Fire at Limelight Theater
A great family musical, Ring of Fire features 38 Johnny Cash hits! Performance times are 7:30 p.m. Thursday – Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets are $25; $22 seniors; $20 student and military. Located at 11 Old Mission Ave., St. Augustine. Call (904) 825-1164 or visit www.limelight-theatre.org.

Friday, October 16

Uptown St. Augustine’s Harvest Fall Event
The shops of Uptown San Marco Avenue host an evening of autumn celebration full of cheer, great deals, spiked cider and coffee, new product launches, and mini makeovers with a brow bar. The event is from 5 – 9 p.m. Free to attend, free street parking, additional parking at the Mission. North San Marco Ave., St. Augustine. For more information, call (904) 829-6831.

Suzanne Vega at Ponte Vedra Concert Hall
Widely regarded as one of the most brilliant songwriters of her generation, Suzanne Vega emerged as a leading figure of the folk-music revival of the early 1980s. Vega sings in a distinctive, clear vibrato-less voice that has been described as “a cool, dry sandpaper- brushed near-whisper” and as “plaintive but disarmingly powerful.” Suzanne will perform at 8 p.m. (doors open at 7 p.m.) at the Ponte Vedra Concert Hall. Tickets are $29.50 – $49.50. Located at 1050 A1A North, Ponte Vedra Beach. For more information, call (904) 209-0367 or visit www.pvconcerthall.com.

Friday & Saturday, October 16 & 17

St. Benedict’s Blues Fest
St. Benedict the Moor Catholic Church, a mission church of the Cathedral Basilica St. Augustine, hosts its third annual Blues Fest to benefit rectory renovations. Friday, the music and fun starts at 4 – 10 p.m. On Saturday, parishioners are serving barbeque, gumbo, and blues music from noon – 10 p.m. Located at 86 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., St. Augustine. www.stbensbluesfest.com

Friday – Sunday, October 16 – 18

Sykes and Cooper Farms Corn Maze
This award-winning nine-acre maze is sure to get your family pumped up for fall—there’s even a Spookley the Square Pumpkin maze for the kids. Located on SR 207 in Elkton, Sykes-Cooper Farm features a nine-acre corn maze, hayrides, a playground, and farm animals to see and meet. Hours are 5 to 9 p.m. Fridays; 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturdays; and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays. General admission is $9, seniors and active military $7, children 2 and younger admitted free. Located at 5995 Brough Rd., Elkton. sycofarms.com

2015 St. Augustine Amateur
The annual St. Augustine Amateur Golf Championship takes place at the St. Johns Golf Club in Elkton. This national event established in 2004, attracts elite young players from throughout the U.S., as well as international and local players. Registration is $299 for the St. Augustine Amateur and $75 for the St. Augustine Amateur Qualifier. All proceeds go to First Tee of Northeast Florida. Free parking for spectators. Located at 4900 Cypress Links Blvd., Elkton. For more information, call (904) 209-0350 or visit www.staugustineamateur.com.

Saturday, October 17

Cracker Day at the St. Johns County Fair Grounds
The St. Johns County Fair Grounds hosts Cracker Day with gates opening at 7 a.m. Signup for horse games at 8 a.m., run at 9 a.m. There will be pole bending, cloverleaf, pick up race, arena race, sack race, cow pony races, pony races, 4H exhibits, whip cracking competition and barbecue by Jerry Stalvey. Admission is $5 per vehicle. Sponsored by the St. Johns County Cattlemen’s Association. S.R. 207, Elkton. For more information, call (904) 669-6186.

Guided Beach Exploration Guana South Beach
Join GTM Research Reserve Docents from 8:30 – 10:00 a.m. for a beach walk at the Guana South beach location on A1A, South Ponte Vedra Beach. Learn about the animals that call the beach home as well as seashells and other interesting facts. This is a “Beaches 101” experience that the entire family will enjoy. There is a $3/per vehicle parking fee. Located at 1768 Ponte Vedra Blvd., Ponte Vedra Beach. Call (904) 823-4500 or visit www.gtmnerrbeachexploration.eventbrite.com.

Nocatee Farmer’s Market
Nocatee Farmer’s Market takes place from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. every third Saturday. This free family-friendly event has over 80 local vendors selling everything from produce, crafts, jewelry, herbs, unique foods and more. Free face painting will be available for the little ones, along with bounce house. Located at 245 Little River Rd., Ponte Vedra. www.nocatee.com

Cherokee Native American Interpretive History Demonstrations
Enjoy a day of demonstrations by Cherokee Native Historians at the Fountain of Youth Archeological Park. From 11 a.m. until 4 p.m., listen and learn about how the Southeastern Cherokee nation interacted with the Timucua tribes in the area for centuries before the arrival of the Europeans. The lectures and demonstration will take place in the park’s living history village of Seloy. Admission is $15 Adults, $14 seniors, $9 Children 6 – 12, Under 5 free. Located at 11 Magnolia Avenue, St. Augustine. For more information, call (904) 829-3168 or visit www.FountainofYouthFlorida.com.

Tolomato Cemetery Guided Tour
Tour the oldest extant planned cemetery in Florida with burials starting during the First Spanish Period (1565-1763). Admission is free, but donations are encouraged. Tours are from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Located at 16 Cordova St., St. Augustine. www.tolomatocemetery.com

Free Pirates & Plunder Tours
Arrrgh… are you ready for adventure? The Pirates & Plunder Historic Walking Tour is fun, entertaining, and appropriate for the whole family, as well as anyone with a love for the romance and the harsh reality of this bygone era. This maritime stroll will take place in the beautiful historic sites of downtown and include the little-know St. Augustine pirate folklore that makes this area unique. The tour is free and may be booked online. Departs at 6:15 p.m. from the Tour St. Augustine office, 4 Granada St., St. Augustine. For more information, call (904) 825-0087 or visit www.Tourstaug.com.

Castillo by Candlelight: Taking the Plunge
Commemorate the 450 years of St. Augustine history by joining the National Park Service for an evening taking a special look at soldier life in the Castillo during the First Spanish period (1565-1763). Join a park ranger for a guided, candlelight tour of the Castillo lasting about 45 minutes Tours depart from the ticket booth at 6:15, 7:15, and 8:15 p.m. Tour tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis and may be purchased in advance at the ticket booth or by calling (904) 829-6506, ext. 232. Tickets are $10 for age 16 and up; $5 per child ages 5-15; and free for those under age 5. Located at 1 South Castillo Dr., St. Augustine. www.nps.gov/casa

HipHarp for the Arts at the Ponte Vedra Concert Hall
The Cultural Center at Ponte Vedra presents HipHarp for the Arts at the Ponte Vedra Concert Hall. Deborah Hinson-Sonant, a Grammy-nominated recording artist will perform on a chrome 32-string HipHarp designed and invented exclusively by her to combine music, theater and movement in her one-woman show. VIP tickets are $100 for members and $110 for non-members and include a private reception at 6 p.m. with appetizers and cocktails and premiere seating. Reserved tables of 8 are also available. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. Located at 1050 A1A North, Ponte Vedra Beach. For more information, call (904) 280-0614 x202 or visit www.ccpvb.org.

Country Quartet “Little Big Town” Concert
This GRAMMY, Academy of Country Music, Country Music Association and Emmy awards-winning band Little Big Town will hit the stage at St. Augustine Amphitheatre at 7:30 p.m. (gates open at 6:30 p.m.). Tickets are $25 – $45. Located at 1340 A1A South. Call (904) 209-0367 or visit www.StAugAmphitheatre.com.

Saturday & Sunday, October17 & 18

Family Fun Days at the Pumpkin Patch
Lord of Life Lutheran Church in Ponte Vedra Beach presents a two-day Family Fun festival featuring hayrides, bounce houses, kids crafts, face painting, food, drinks, homemade baked and canned items and a raffle. Plus, the Pumpkin Patch features hundreds of pumpkins. The Festival is open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturday; 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday. Located at 276 North Roscoe Blvd., Ponte Vedra. For more information, call (904) 285-5347.

Room on the Broom at the IMAX
Every Saturday and Sunday in October, the IMAX at World Golf Village presents Room on the Broom. The witch and her cat are happily flying through the sky on a broomstick when the wind picks up and blows away the witch’s hat, then her bow, and then her wand. Is there room for the animals that that come to her rescue from a hungry dragon? Adults $13, Seniors/Students/Military $12, and Children 3-12 $10. Visit the website for show times. Located at One World Golf Place, St. Augustine. For more information, call (904) 940-4123 or visit www.worldgolfimax.com.

Sunday, October 18

Oktoberfest
From 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. the St. Augustine Sertoma Club will present a whole day of German fun at Francis Field. Traditional food including bratwurst, sauerkraut, pretzels, as well as German and domestic beers and deserts will be available. Enjoy bands throughout the day in the biergarten tent. There will be plenty of arts and crafts by locals and children activities. Admission is $5 (children under 10 free). Located at 29 W. Castillo Dr., St. Augustine. www.sertomastaugustine.org/oktoberfest

Florida Chamber Music Project Presents “Mozart and Mendelssohn”
Mozart String Quartet in B flat major K. 458 “The Hunt” and Mendelssohn’s string quartet in E minor No.2 will be performed by the Florida Chamber Music Project at 3 p.m. (doors open at 2 p.m.) at the Ponte Vedra Concert Hall. Tickets are $23 for general admission seating. Season tickets for Florida Chamber Music Project are also available. Located at 1050 A1A North, Ponte Vedra Beach. For more information, call (904) 209-0399 or visit www.pvconcerthall.com.

A Taste of the Beach
Annual ‘taste-fest’ with the crowd and judges selecting the coveted “Best of the Beach” restaurant at the end of the evening. Admission is free and taste tickets sell for $1 each. The Taste of St. Augustine Beach takes place from noon – 5 p.m. at St. Augustine Beach Pier Pavilion. Live music, beer, wine, soft drinks and food will be available. Proceeds benefit the Betty Griffin House, a shelter for women and children who are victims of domestic violence. Located at 350 A1A Beach Blvd. Call (904) 347-8007 or visit www.thecivicassociation.org.

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. Every Thursday admission to the First Colony Exhibit at the Government House is also free to SJC residents. 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.