Paul Williamson, director of public affairs for the City of St Augustine, announced to local Historic City News reporters that the 25th season of free Concerts in the Plaza will kick off on May 28th with The Driftwoods; performing bluegrass with a touch of swing.

The free concerts are held in the Plaza de la Constitución and run all summer long; every Thursday at 7:00 p.m. between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

“St. Augustine’s summer-long music series offers great music in a great place,” Williamson told reporters.  “Concerts in the Plaza has something for everyone.”

The Experience

Reminiscent of days gone by when friends and families would gather on a summer evening to listen to music in the town square, Concerts in the Plaza brings a wide variety of musical entertainment to St. Augustine’s historic downtown all summer long. The series is known for showcasing the best in regional musical talent including bluegrass and blues, jazz and country, swing and folk, old time and popular rock.

The Location

The series has been called “the best way to spend a Thursday night in St. Augustine,” and it’s easy to understand why when enjoying quality musical entertainment while sitting under the majestic oaks of the Plaza de la Constitución, a gathering place for the people of St. Augustine for well over four centuries.

The Plaza is located in the heart of St. Augustine between Cathedral Place and King Street, just west of the Bridge of Lions. Each week performers entertain from The Gazebo, a fixture in the center of the Plaza for nearly a century. There is no permanent seating in the Plaza so attendees should bring lounge chairs. Alcoholic beverages are prohibited in the Plaza de la Constitución, but picnic dinners are welcome.

Parking

On street parking is available near the Plaza and is free throughout the city after 5:00 p.m. Parking is also available in the Historic Downtown Parking Facility located at 10 South Castillo Drive; a 10-minute walk along St. George Street from the Plaza. The cost for parking is $12 per entry or $3 with a ParkNow card.

Rain? What rain?

Because Florida’s summer rain showers are usually brief, even when heavy, it is rare for a performance to be cancelled in advance. As is often said: The only way you’ll know if a concert is cancelled is to be there. Performances may be postponed if the rain seems brief, but cancelled only if the weather prohibits the performance from continuing. If a concert is cancelled in advance, every effort will be made to notify the public through Historic City News and other local media.

2015 Concerts in the Plaza Schedule

• May 28 — The Driftwoods / bluegrass with a touch of swing

• June 4 — The House Cats / jazz, swing, blues

• June 11 — Big Pineapple / Hawaiian jazz

• June 18 — Bob & Joline & the Friends of Mine Band / ‘60s folk

• June 25 — Mid-Life Crisis / variety of pop, rock, disco, & country classics

• July 2 — Ancient City Brass Band / brass band standards

• July 9 — Ancient City Slickers / big fun music

• July 16 — The Falling Bones / ‘60s party and dance rock

• July 23 — The Grapes of Roth / classic rock

• July 30 — Rob Ellis Peck & Friends / blues & rock

• August 6 — Mike Hart’s Decoy / blues, jazz & rock

• August 13 — The Committee / classic rock and originals

• August 20 — The Rick Arcusa Band / classic rock

• August 27 — The Gatorbone Band / original acoustic, jazz, swing, countrypolitian

• September 3 — Lonesome Bert & The Skinny Lizards / original Americana

Concerts in the Plaza is produced by the City of St. Augustine with support from the St. Johns County Tourist Development Council.

For more information, call 904.825.1004 during weekday office hours or email info@citystaug.com.

For complete information and schedule, visit PlazaConcerts.com.

For complete visitor information, contact Florida’s Historic Coast at FloridasHistoricCoast.com or call 800.653.2489.