Historic City News readers are invited to sample the traditions of St. Augustine’s Spanish, Minorcan and Greek ancestors during the “Maritime Folklife Festival” at the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Museum on Saturday, September 5th, during the citywide 450th birthday celebration.
Admission to the festival is free thanks to a sponsorship by the Lighthouse and the Florida Division of Historical Resources.
“So much of our maritime history is tied to the cultural roots of this community,” said Executive Director Kathy A. Fleming. “This event ties in perfectly with our museum’s dedication to folk culture, like our traditional wooden boatworks and exhibits on shrimping and boatbuilding. It’s also a great fit with the 450th celebration.”
The festival will run from 10:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and will include elements of food, music and history (see full schedule below).
Volunteers from the museum’s Heritage Boatworks will showcase some of their traditional wooden boatbuilding skills during the morning session, followed by a Minorcan castnet demonstration from Michael Usina. Lunch will feature Cuban and Minorcan food samples provided by Marisella Veiga and Mary Ellen Masters.
In the afternoon, Pam Solano will demonstrate palmetto hat making, followed by a Florida shrimping and boatbuilding presentation from Nick Deonas. Latin Music performers Goliath Flores and Joel Mejias will conclude the festival with a concert from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.
“The term ‘folklife’ represents the traditional expressive culture that is woven into our daily lives through occupational traditions, material arts, and foodways,” said Amanda Hardeman, State Folklorist for the Bureau of Historic Preservation. “This special event will celebrate the diverse cultures and living traditions that are so tightly bound to St. Augustine’s community identity and cultural history.”
The festival will be held on the front lawn of the Keepers’ House. Admission is not required for the festival, however if guests would like to enter the Lighthouse grounds to climb the tower and view museum exhibits, general admission rates would apply.
Visitors are encouraged to use the Usina Bridge on State Road 312 to access the Lighthouse due to high traffic in the downtown areas for the 450th celebration. Trolleys will also be running along Anastasia Boulevard between designated parking areas and the base of the Bridge of Lions.
MARITIME FOLKLIFE FESTIVAL SCHEDULE
10:00 – 10:10 a.m.: Opening remarks from state folklorist Amanda Hardeman
10:15 – 10:45 a.m.: Boatbuilding demonstration
10:45 – 11:15 a.m.: Minorcan castnet demonstration by Michael Usina
11:15 – noon : Minorcan foodways with Mary Ellen Masters
noon – 12:30 p.m.: Cuban foodways with Marisella Veiga
12:30 – 1:00 p.m.: Palmetto hat making demonstration with Pam Solano
1:00 – 1:30 p.m.: Shrimping and boatbuilding presented by Nick Deonas
1:30 – 2:30 p.m.: Latin music by Goliath Flores and Joel Mejias
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