Weekend features Gamble Rogers Festival

St. Augustine Visitors and Convention Bureau Communications Director Jay Humphreys informed entertainment reporters at Historic City News that Friday kicks off this year’s edition of the Gamble Rogers Folk Festival and a weekend full of entertainment.

Friday, Saturday & Sunday: April 29 – May 1

16th ANNUAL GAMBLE ROGERS FOLK FESTIVAL
Enjoy the very best in folk and Americana music at this annual three-day celebration of the music, stories and dance that made Gamble Rogers famous. This year, Gamble Rogers Folk Festival performances will take place at a variety of Downtown St. Augustine venues (daytime) with evening shows at the Flagler College Auditorium and the Lightner Museum. Tickets will be available for single venue shows and in a variety of packages including an all-access weekend pass. For more information, call 904.794.4163 or visit www.gamblerogersfest.org.

LIMELIGHT THEATRE: THE GOOD DOCTOR

Neil Simon pays homage to Anton Chekhov in this series of short stories based on the Russian master’s works. A central character known only as The Writer–based on Chekhov himself–ties the scenes together. The show takes place at Limelight Theatre, located at 11 Old Mission Road in St. Augustine. Show times through May 22 are Tuesday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday 2 p.m. matinees only. Tickets are $25 for adults, $22 for seniors and $20 for students and military. For more information, call 904.825.1164 or visit www.limelight-theatre.org.

Saturday: April 30

SOMEBODY CARES 5K

Run in the sun and sea breeze from 6:30 a.m. to noon in St. Augustine Beach – all for a good cause. For more information, call 904.540.5588

TURTLETOWN BEACH CLEANUP

Be a part of this annual effort to clean up the beaches in preparation for the sea turtle nesting season along Florida’s Historic Coast. The clean-up is from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Supplies, including bags and gloves, will be available at Mickler’s Landing, the Vilano Beach ramp, the St. Johns County Pier and the Crescent Beach parking lot. Volunteers may then clean-up at these sites or drive to other clean-up areas. Wear comfortable clothes and hats and use sunscreen. For more information call 904.827.6980.

LIVING HISTORY DAYS AT FORT MOSE

Meet St. Augustine’s 1740 residents, Los Presidiales de San Agustín. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the townsfolk will present 18th-century historical interpretation programs at Fort Mose. Established in 1738, Fort Mose is the site of the first, legally-sanctioned free black settlement in the continental U.S. Fort Mose State Park is located at 15 Fort Mose Trail in St. Augustine. Admission is $2 per person. For more information, call 904.823.2232 or visit www.floridastateparks.org/fortmose.

UPTOWN SATURDAY NIGHT

From 5 to 9 p.m., experience live music, refreshments, new exhibits, book signings and much more at the galleries, antique stores and unique shops on St. Augustine’s San Marco Avenue between Ripley’s Museum and the Mission Nombre de Dios. The Mission provides FREE PARKING. For more information, call 904.823.9263

DOO-WOP MUSICAL SALUTE

Experience an exciting musical salute to The Platters, The Coasters, The Drifters and the Temptations at Fort Menendez at Old Florida Museum. Performed by Myles Savage, former lead singer from The Platters, this salute features the all-time classic songs of these immortal groups. The show begins at 7 p.m. with local musician Kaylee Rose as the opening act. Tickets are $40 (limited time, buy one-get one free!) Reservations are required. To purchase tickets, call Fort Menendez at Old Florida Museum at 904-824-8874 or visit www.oldfloridamuseum.com for more information. Fort Menendez is located at 259 San Marco Avenue St Augustine, Florida.

Sunday: May 1

RUBBER DUCK RACE

Race your duck for a good cause at the Sixth Annual Rubber Duck Race to fight cancer. Presented by the American Cancer Society, the race will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the St. Johns County Pier Park and Pavilion in St. Augustine Beach. For more information, call 903.307.3638.

MENORCAN DAY TEA

Learn about unique Menorcan customs while enjoying a traditional Menorcan tea hosted by three natives who can trace their heritage back through nearly 445 years of St. Augustine history and into antiquity in Spain. These heritage natives portray the city’s Spanish Royal Family – Queen Maria Anna, her son King Carlos, and her daughter Princess Margarita Maria – the royal family of Spain during the construction of the city’s Castillo de San Marcos. Refreshments will be served from 2 to 4 p.m. For more information, call 904.824.4991.

EMMA FREE CONCERT

Violist Jorge Peña Portillo has performed with the National Orchestra Institute, Washington D.C., the Grand Teton Music Festival, Jackson Hole, WY and others and was the Assistant Principal Violist for both the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra and the Maryland Symphony Orchestra. This free concert takes place at 2 p.m. in the Flagler College Auditorium, 14 Granada Street in St. Augustine. For more information, call 904.797.2800 or visit www.EMMAConcerts.com.

JOHN MAYALL & SHEMEKIA COPELAND IN CONCERT

Enjoy a performance by the elder statesman of British blues, John Mayall along talented blues singer Shemekia Copeland t the Ponte Vedra Concert Hall. Gates open at 6 p.m. and the show starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are $35 in advance and VIP tickets, including a Meet & Greet, are $39. The Ponte Vedra Concert Hall is located at 1050 A1A North in Ponte Vedra Beach. For tickets and more information, visit www.PVConcertHall.com or call 904.471.1965.

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