We never really grow out of our fascination with pirates, and St. Augustine is the best place in the country to imagine the time when plundering buccaneers roamed the high seas. There’s no better time to live the pirate’s life than January 25-27 at the 3rd Annual Old City Pirate Fest!

 

The weekend celebration is full of pirate-themed fun for the entire family in the Old City’s Colonial Quarter. Enjoy lots of food and drink options, live entertainment on two stages, games and prizes for the kids, vendors row with tons of pirate merchandise, and black powder and sword demonstrations. Entertainment includes live music, puppet shows and magic shows each day.

 

Special performers include Dirty James and the Rusty Anchors, Tom Mason and the Blue Buccaneers, Keith Hill, the Forged in Fire Champions and Knife or Death Grand Champion.

 

Be sure to look for The Ancient City Sirens, who will host a Gypsy Encampment throughout Saturday and Sunday.

Getting There:The Colonial Quarter is located at 33 St. George Street. Ticket booths will be located at the main entrance to the Pirate Museum on Avenida Menéndez and the Bull & Crown Publick House at 53 St. George Street.

 

Getting In: A Fest Pass, good for both Saturday and Sunday, is $7 for adults (15-65), $5 for seniors (65+) and $5 for kids (14 & under). Children 3 and under are free. Tickets for the Friday night concert featuring Tom Mason and the Blue Buccaneers are an additional $10.

 

Here are the event hours for each day:

Friday, January 25: 7 p.m. to 11:45 p.m.

Saturday, January 26: 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Sunday, January 27: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Mark your calendar for next weekend to open your imagination and live the pirate’s life! As always, the Old City Pirate Fest is hosted by the St. Augustine Swashbucklers. For more information, visit here.

 
 
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While the PGA TOUR prepares for the 60th anniversary of its Desert Classic, the World Golf Hall of Fame is also gearing up for the big event. Played every winter in Coachella Valley, California, the Desert Classic features the sport’s top players vying for a tournament win, as well as a celebrity pro-am tournament.

 

The pro-am has included among its competitors Bing Crosby, Desi Arnez and Frank Sinatra, and more recently Jimmy Fallon, Don Cheadle and Samuel L. Jackson. Several U.S. presidents have even competed including Dwight Eisenhower, Gerald Ford, Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush.

The most notable celebrity player, however, was Bob Hope. For years considered to be Hollywood’s greatest golfer, Bob first played in the tournament in 1965 when he stepped in as chairman of the board. The tournament bared his name from 1965 to 2011.

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Between shopping, wrapping, decorating and celebrating, the holidays are always a hectic time. Add to that the worry of what to cook for holiday meals. To help relieve some of that stress, the Renaissance World Golf Village Resort offers Christmas and New Year’s dinner options each year.

 

These are no run-of-the-mill ham dinners! Enjoy prime rib on Christmas Eve or seafood and steak on Christmas night, all served on an extensive buffet of tasty appetizers, gourmet sides and delectable desserts. Each dish is prepared and served with the unwavering quality and attention to detail for which the Renaissance is known.

 

Christmas Eve Prime Rib Dinner Buffet: On Monday, December 24, enjoy a delicious Christmas Eve prime rib buffet dinner. The buffet will be open from 6 to 9 p.m. The cost is $43 for adults and $39 for seniors.

 

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While Ringling Bros. ended its 147-year run last year, we still love the whimsical charm of the circus. St. Augustine Amphitheatre is helping to keep that charm alive by hosting the Venardos Circus from December 19 through January 27, 2019.

 

Unlike a customary circus, Venardos bills itself as “The American Circus with the heart of a Broadway Show” and features a theatrical style format along with aerialists, clowns, dancers, acrobats, magicians and more traditional performances.

 

The circus will hold 50 performances during its residency, allowing for plenty of chances to check out the show, including multiple daily performances on weekends (Friday, Saturday and Sunday). No performances are scheduled for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day or New Year’s Eve.

 

During its St. Augustine residency last winter, Venardos Circus created quite a buzz and numerous shows were even sold out.

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St. Augustine’s signature nautical event, Regatta of Lights, will set sail this Saturday, December 8. The parade will kick off at 6 p.m. and be viewable from anywhere along Matanzas Bay between the Bridge of Lions and the Castillo de San Marcos (“the fort”).

 

Find a cozy spot along the bayfront (or grab a seat at a waterfront eatery like Harry’s Seafood or A1A Ale Works) and take in the show of brilliantly festooned boats of every shape and size. Personal fishing boats, yachts, commercial shrimping boats, sailboats—spectators will be treated to a bevy of decorated vessels. Participating boats will make two laps around the bay so don’t worry if you miss the first pass!

 

This is the 38thyear of the annual parade. According to event host St. Augustine Yacht Club, the Regatta of Lights “reflects the maritime roots and rich nautical heritage of St. Augustine.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The evening caps off with awards for best theme, most colorful, best in class and best overall (award winners will be posted on St. Augustine Yacht Club’s Facebook page).

 

Regatta of Lights accompanies St. Augustine’s Nights of Lights, the award-winning holiday lights display currently illuminating historic downtown. Nights of Lights runs until February 3, 2019.

 

For more information on the Regatta of Lights, call (904) 824-9725 or visit here.

 
 
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Why spend your Thanksgiving dedicating hours to cooking and cleaning up when you can relax and enjoy the Happy Thanksgiving Buffet hosted by the Renaissance Resort at World Golf Village?

Each year, the folks at the Renaissance prepare a full Thanksgiving feast with all the trimmings. This Thanksgiving, which falls on November 22, the resort will no doubt exceed expectations with another delicious banquet.

The Turkey Day meal is perfect for an entire extended family looking to enjoy everyone’s company, or just a couple seeking a quiet, no-fuss holiday meal.

The Happy Thanksgiving Buffet will last from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and includes entertainment by Ken Edwards. The cost is $48 for adults, $42 for seniors and $26 for children.

Forget the stress of cooking this year! Make reservations today by calling (904) 940-8696.

The Renaissance is located at 500 South Legacy Trail, St. Augustine, 32092, in heart of World Golf Village.

 
 
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Historic St. Augustine’s 25th Annual Nights of Lights kicks off on Saturday, November 17, when the city turns on its 3 million twinkling lights to spread holiday cheer throughout the Oldest City!

Don’t miss Flagler College and the Lightner Museum, which are known for their especially spectacular displays. Lights continue throughout the Plaza de la Constitución, which also features a large Christmas tree.

Saturday’s festivities start with live music at 4 p.m. outside the Lightner Museum, followed by a special performance by the All Star Orchestra in the Plaza de la Constitución at 5:30 p.m. At 6:30 p.m., the big countdown begins to light the tree and all 3 million lights around town. Live music continues until 8 p.m.

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This weekend, plan to visit the World Golf Hall of Fame & Museum for a special promotion! All active duty military, veterans and their dependents will receive free admission to the museum November 10 and 11.

Also, enjoy a round on the 18-hole natural grass putting green for just $5 per person. Feeling lucky? Take two shots on the Challenge Hole for just $5 (or five shots for $10).

In addition to the activities offered, the Hall of Fame features permanent as well as special exhibits throughout the facility. Just some of the current exhibits worth pursuing include:

  • Gary Player: Grand Slam Success
  • Honoring the Legacy: A Tribute to African-Americans in Golf
  • Bob Hope: Shanks for the Memory
  • Nancy Lopez: Pride, Passion & Personality
  • History in the Making (featuring memorabilia from professional tournaments and major championships highlighting record-breaking performances and other historic moments)
  • Hall of Fame Inductee Exhibits (including Class of 2019 inductees Peggy Kirk Bell, Retief Goosen, Billy Payne, Jan Stephenson and Dennis Walters)

Join the World Golf Hall of Fame & Museum in honoring veterans, active military and their families this weekend! Visit www.worldgolfhalloffame.org for more information.

 

 
 
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Flagler Broadcasting’s Beach 105.5 will present “A Salute to Veterans and First Responders” this Saturday, November 3, at St. Augustine Amphitheatre! The concert features Grammy Award winning artist David Ball with special guest and local favorite Pellicer Creek Band.

David Ball

Pellicer Creek Band

The event is free and open to the public, and the first 200 veterans and first responders to enter will get reserved seating.

The fun kicks off at 4 p.m. at the Amphitheatre’s Front Porch.  The main show is located at the Backyard Stage where Pellicer Creek Band will perform at 7 p.m. followed by David Ball at 8:15 p.m.

David Ball’s career has spanned 25 years. His hit song “Thinking Problem” was the top selling country song of 1994, while his song “Riding with Private Malone” is a favorite among veterans.

St. Augustine Amphitheatre is located at 1340 A1A South in St. Augustine, FL 32080.

Limited paid parking is available in the St. Augustine Amphitheatre Main Lot, but only with advance purchase of a Premium Parking ticket. Free satellite parking areas are located within one mile of the Amphitheatre. For more information about the concert and parking information, visit here.

 
 
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Looking for a fun and meaningful family event this weekend? The 23rd Annual Ancient City Kids Day is coming to Francis Field this Saturday, October 27, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The popular annual event is free to all and includes games, arts & crafts, giveaways and contests, bounce houses and live entertainment, as well as kid-friendly food and drinks available for purchase.

The event is hosted by EPIC Behavioral Healthcare and includes involvement by more than 40 youth service organizations. While the kids engage in various games and activities, parents can learn about community resources available for families. One Blood will also be holding a blood drive during the event.

T-shirts and goody bags will be handed out to all children who attend (while supplies last).

Live Entertainment Schedule:

11 a.m. Good Puppy (local band made up of kids)

12 p.m. Showtime USA (dance troupe)

1 p.m. Drum Circle with Unk’l Ray Nutter (interactive drumming activity)

2 p.m. 3NMotion (dance troupe)

Francis Field is located at 25 W. Castillo Drive in St. Augustine’s historic district. For more information, please call EPIC at (904) 829-2273 or visit epicbh.org.

 
 
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