Coastal Companion

Your ultimate guide to the coast

Celebrate Fourth of July in St. Augustine, Florida

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The Old City is the perfect spot to celebrate the nation’s birthday. There is always a lot going on in St Augustine, and the city is always well worth a visit. Take a stroll in the historic downtown district, enjoy the many quaint shops and restaurants and the atmosphere, before heading to the waterfront for fireworks.

Don’t miss our weekly show for Florida, 4th of July, click here now!

St. Augustine Fourth of July Fireworks
The spectacular fireworks burst above the ancient Castillo de San Marcos and reflect in the waters of Matanzas Bay. Have a blast with a 20-minute long fireworks show accompanied by great patriotic music. Best vantage points located along the bayfront between the Castillo and the Bridge of Lions.

Blast off is at 9:30 p.m.
For more information contact the CVB at 904.825.1005

4th of July at San Sebastian Winery
Listen to great music while sipping on award-winning Florida wines at The San Sebastian Winery’s Cellar Upstairs. Watch this year’s fireworks over St Augustien skyline.
The Cellar Upstairs at San Sebastian Winery, Corner of King and Malaga Streets From 5 to 11 p.m.
Contact San Sebastian Winery: 904.826.1594 or visit www.sansebastianwinery.com

Top of the Lighthouse on the 4th of July
Create a memorable evening, first with a view of St Augustine at sunset and then at dark you can watch the spectacular fireworks over Matanzas Bay.
Tickets are $40 per person and space is limited.

St Augustine Lighthouse & Museum, 81 Lighthouse Avenue, St. Augustine, FL
Call 904.829.0745 ext. 207 or visit www.staugustinelighthouse.com

St Augustine, Florida

Greek Landing Day Celebration in St Augustine, 2009

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On June 26th, 1768 nearly 500 Greek colonists arrived to St. Augustine, Florida, with the Thurnbull expedition. This arrival eventually lead to the first colony of Greeks in North America. Every year this event is celebrated at at the St. Photios Greek Orthodox National Shrine, and this year the 23rd annual celebration takes place Thursday June 25th – Saturday June 27th, 2009.

Thursday June 25th
The three day long celebration begins on Thursday at 5.30pm with an opening reception for the exhibit Steven Papadatos: A Retrospective of One Man’s 40-year Career.

Friday June 26th
Shrine Chaplain, Father Nikitas Theodosion will celebrate the services of Matins, Divine Liturgy and the colonists’ memorial Friday, June 26 at 9:00 am in the St Photios Chapel. St. Augustine Mayor Joseph Bolles will read the 2009 Greek Landing Day City Proclamation and Victoria Pitenis of Daytona Beach will read her award winning essay, St. Photios Shrine. Refreshments will be served.

Liz Lazarides White will lecture on Greek cooking class at 4:00 p.m. at the Shrine. Her cookbook Opa! will be available for purchase. Liz and her husband Ed will also be available at the Saturday Glendi.

Saturday June 26th
Bring their children for the 9:00 a.m. Colonial Spanish Quarter Scavenger Hunt, followed by tie dying! Later it’s time for a greek party. Enjoy festive Greek music and food at the annual glendi (party). Here you can try delicious Greek pastries and other food. The glendi will be held in the Constantine Sisters Courtyard Saturday, June 27, 10-3:00 p.m.

For additional information, please contact:
St. Photios Greek Orthodox National Shrine, 41 St. George Street, St. Augustine, FL 32085-1960
Tel 1-904-829-8205
Toll free 1-800-222-6727

Click here for more information about
Greek Landing Day in St Augustine 2009

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Independence Day Fireworks at the World Golf Village on July 2, 2009

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Start your 4th of July celebration early this year with fireworks on Thursday July 2nd. The fireworks show is schedule to start after dark.

You can actually turn Thursday into a full-fledged Independence Day extravaganza at the World Golf Village by combining the fireworks show with dinner and a BIG movie. Enjoy an All-American buffet at Fairways café starting at 5:30pm and follow that with a special showing of “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” at the IMAX theater. This has to be the absolutely best way to experience this action packed movie which we think is destined to be on of the big movies of the summer.

The package price for “Dinner and a Movie” are $35 for adults and $30 for children. The package also includes free putting on the Hall’s 18-hole putting course and two adult drink tickets.

There are a limited number of “dinner and a movie” packages available at the World Golf Village, St Augustine, Florida, so please call 904-940-4010 to book or visit www.wgv.com
World Golf Village, St Augustine, Florida

Free Concerts in the Plaza on Thursdays in St Augustine, Florida

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When you’re visiting St. Augustine, don’t miss the free concerts on Thursday nights. It’s the best way to enjoy a beautiful summer evening.
For the 19th year, St. Augustine continues with the free Concerts in the Plaza series. This popular event is said to be “the best way to spend a Thursday night in the Old City”, and it is definitely a great way to enjoy a free concert under live oaks in the park. The concert series brings a variety of music to the historic district of St. Augustine’s all summer long. Listen to Bluegrass and blues, jazz and country, swing and folk, old time and popular rock every Thursday.
All Thursday night concerts are free. The performance begins at 7 p.m, bring your own chair and maybe even picnic dinner.

The Plaza de la Constitución is located in the heart of St. Augustine between Cathedral Place and King Street, west of the Bridge of Lions. The band performs from The Gazebo, located in the center of the Plaza. Plan to come early to get reserve a good spot, this is usually a popular event.

Where to Park
Parking is available in the Historic Downtown Parking Facility (HDPF) located at the St. Augustine & St. Johns County Visitors Information Center. This is usually where we park when we visit St Augustine for the day. It’s convenient and easy – who wants to waste time driving around looking for parking anyway? There’s too much to see in St Augustine for that. This place is about a ten minute walk along St. George St. to the Plaza. The cost there is $1.25 per hour with a $7.50 per day maximum.
On street parking is also available near the Plaza de la Constitución and is free after 5:00pm.
St Augustine, Florida

Drake’s Raid in St. Augustine

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English raiders attack St. Augustine, Florida.
On Saturday, June 6, English pirates lead by Sir Francis Drake will once again decende on St. Augustine in an authentic re-creation of Drake’s Raid of 1586.
On June 7, 1586, Drake’s 23 ships and 2,000 Englishmen attacked the city with cannons from Anastasia Island. The next day, they stormed through the streets and burned St. Augustine to the ground.

Drake's Raid in St Augustine FloridaCamp Life at the Fountain of Youth
The re-enactment is one of these great events when history comes alive. On Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., visit the 16th century encampment at the Fountain of Youth Park, 11 Magnolia Avenue.
Here you have the opportunity to watch military drills and the re-enactors will also have demonstrations of camp life.

Street Fights in the Old City
In the evening at 7 p.m., the running battle will begin at the Santa Domingo redoubt on Orange Street. The battle will continue to the City Gate and then head south on St. George Street to the Plaza de la Constitucion. Spanish soldiers and St. Augustine townspeople will attempt to stop the English assault. This is a free event, so there is no admission to visit the encampment or watch the authentic re-creation of the sack of St. Augustine.

The event is funded in part by a grant from the St. Johns County Tourist Development Council. For more information on the re-enactment of Drake’s Raid, call 904.829.3168.