Liza Mitchell
FEST-ST. AUGUSTINE
March 6-8 LIONS CLUB SEAFOOD FESTIVAL Get ready to eat great seafood, tap your toes to live music, and then stroll through more than 100 arts and crafts exhibitors. These are just a few of the highlights of the 34th St. Augustine Lions Seafood Festival. Presented by Winn-Dixie, the Festival features tons of delicious food, outstanding music and affordable arts & crafts. Families will enjoy the Kidz Zone, Spanish Landing and Pirate Village. Live music is presented by Buffalo Rose, the Bill Doyle Quartet featuring Linda Cole, Jake Cox with Jimmy B, Lonesome Bert & the Skinny Lizards, the Christian Lopez Band, Sam Pacetti and Collapsible B. Adult Admission is $3. Children 12 & under free. No pets or coolers allowed on festival grounds. Francis Field next to the Visitor’s Center in Downtown St. Augustine. www.lionsfestival.com
March 13-15 THE ST. AUGUSTINE CELTIC MUSIC & HERITAGE FESTIVAL The sounds of the ancient Celtic peoples of Scotland and Ireland are alive at Francis Field on Castillo Drive. Find the Celt in you as you take in the sights, sounds and tastes of centuries of European history. Celtic clans from around the world show their ancestral pride, Highland games athletes demonstrate their mind-boggling strength, the St. Patrick’s Day Parade marches through the streets of the Oldest City’s Historic District, and vendors offer up Celtic cuisine and hand-made crafts. Performers include Rathkeltair, Makem and Spain, Poor Angus, Whiskey of the Damned, Searson, The Dublin City Ramblers, Albannach, and Irish Echoes. www.celticstaugustine.com
March 27 134th ANNUAL ST. AMBROSE CATHOLIC CHURCH FAIR The menu will include chicken pilau and ham dinners, Minorcan clam chowder, hot dogs and hamburgers, homemade desserts, ice cream and more. The Red River Band, a popular local group, will perform throughout the day. Games for kids, a garage sale, hay rides, an antique car show, a bake sale, silent auction and country store also will be part of the event. A raffle will be held for original painting “Church Road” by local artist Joe Taylor, who is a member of the St. Ambrose parish. Tickets are $5 each, with the drawing on the day of the fair. Tours of the church will be offered. Admission is FREE! 6070 Church Road, Elkton. Follow the signs from State Roads 207 and 13.
April 10-12 RHYTHM & RIBS The 20th Annual Rhythm and Ribs Festival includes live, local music all festival long, people’s bbq choice awards, a fun kids’ zone, a climbing wall, mechanical bull, vendors, fun activities and more. Celebrate delicious bbq, music and good times! Live music is played throughout the Rhythm and Ribs Festival in St. Augustine. The headliner for Friday night is Sister Hazel. The headliner for Saturday is Delbert McClinton. This festival will feature local chefs competing for the best barbecue. Dozens of food and drink vendors offering ice cold beer, sodas and other options as well as delicious food items like burgers, pretzels, popcorn, candy, and of course tasty bbq! Barbeque voting takes place all weekend, with the winners announced on Sunday. Visitors and locals are welcome to bring blankets and lawn chairs. Kids fun zone featuring games, pony riding, rock climbing wall, rides, giant hamster balls and more. www.rhythmandribs.net
April 18-19 FLOWER & GARDEN EXPO Celebrate the arrival of spring in the Nation’s oldest city with two days of flowers, friends and fun. Growers, nurseries, crafters and artisans from around the state offer gardeners everything they need to make spring bloom at the “Flower and Garden Expo,” The Garden Club of St. Augustine; Flower and Horticultural Show. This year’s floral design exhibit is titled “450 Years in the Oldest City.” There will be ample free parking. Admission: $5 for a two-day pass, children under 12 are free. St. Johns County Agricultural Center, www.epicbh.org/flowerandgardenexpo
April 25 TASTE OF ST. AUGUSTINE A Taste of St. Augustine is the annual outdoor food festival featuring “tastes” from over 30 participating St. Augustine restaurants. There will also be live performances all day long, and a special children’s area. Visitors can sample delicious tastes from the area’s restaurants and then vote on their favorite one for each category from Best Ethnic, to Best Family Dining and the coveted “People’s Choice” every guest gets the chance to cast a vote. A special Race to the Taste 5K will raise money and give runners free access to the festival with their registration. Admission is $5 per person and taste tickets are $1 each with restaurants charging between 1 and 5 tickets per taste. St. Augustine Amphitheatre, www.tasteofstaugustine.com
May 1-3 GAMBLE ROGERS FOLK FESTIVAL The Gamble Rogers Music Festival presents Wilco will be kickstart event to the 20th Annual Gamble Rogers Music Festival weekend at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre. This year’s music festival will feature over 50 different national, regional and local acts on five different stages. The event will also feature the “I Remember Gamble” song or story contest. The full lineup will be announced at a later date. Tickets for the 20th Annual Gamble Rogers Music Festival on Saturday and Sunday will be sold separately from Friday’s event. Present your Wilco ticket purchase receipt and enjoy a discounted weekend pass for only $20. St. Augustine Amphitheatre, www.gamblerogersfest.org.
May 1-3 ST. AUGUSTINE CHALK WALK The 3rd annual Paseo Pastel features over 60 career artists, chalk Artists and art educators. College and High School Students compete for cash and prizes while they turn the city sidewalks into a gallery of art. A free Chalking Workshop presented by Lee Jones, Orlando Chalk Artist and Featured Artist for 2015. Throughout downtown St. Augustine. www.staugustinechalkwalk.com
May 2 ROSCOLUSA SONGWRITERS FESTIVAL Brings in big writers from Nashville, TN such as Rick Ferrell (“Something Like That” – Tim McGraw) and Jesse Rice (“Cruise” – Florida Georgia Line). It was founded 3 years ago by my good friend, Kimberly Paige Sullivan (Ponte Vedra native). Proceeds are going to benefit the Jay Fund which provides financial assistance for families who have children battling cancer.
Village Lake Dr. in Nocatee, www.roscolusa.com
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