Relive the history and heritage of the Nation’s Oldest City during in the 10-day-long St. Augustine Romanza Festivale. The 2018 Romanza Festivale is the extraordinary celebration of arts and culture in The Nation’s Most Romantic City. It’s not one thing; it’s everything. The Festivale showcases St. Augustine’s music, dance, theater, art, cuisine, heritage, and romance. Featured are headliners, street fairs, the Romanza Parade, concerts, plays, re-enactments, exhibits, lectures, workshops, tours, exquisite dining opportunities, and much more. Get to know the astounding history of our beautiful city and amazing living culture.
THE BASICS
The Romanza Festivale kicks off Friday, May 4 and continues through May 13. The more than 80 concerts, shows, and exhibits will take place at venues across the city, and many of the events are free to the public.
THE SCHEDULE
May 4
- Gamble Rogers Fest Opening Night – 6pm, The Colonial Quarter ($10-$30)
- First Coast Opera at the Art Association – 7pm, The St. Augustine Art Association (FREE)
- Festivale Opening with The Wobbly Toms – 7pm, Plaza de la Constitucion (FREE)
May 5
- Gamble Rogers Festival – 11am-10:30pm, The Colonial Quarter ($10-$30)
- Chamber Music Series: Three Organists in Concert – 12pm, Memorial Presbyterian Church (FREE)
- Weeki-Wachee High School Chorus – 3pm, Plaza de la Constitucion (FREE)
- Cinco de Mayo with Caribeño Tropical and Mariachi Garibaldi – 7pm, Plaza de la Constitucion (FREE)
May 6
- Gamble Rogers Festival – 12pm-7pm, The Colonial Quarter ($10-$30)
- Where Art Meets History at the Art Association – 2pm, St. Augustine Art Association (FREE)
- Hot Hot Harmony – 2:30pm, Lewis Auditorium (FREE)
- The Bartram Trail High School Choir – 5pm, Grace United Methodist Church (FREE)
May 7
- Chamber Music Series: Guy and the Yehudas – 12pm, Ancient City Baptist Church (FREE)
- Martial Arts Demonstrations – 6:30pm, Willie Galimore Center (FREE)
- A Little Night Music: Chillula – 7pm, The Colonial Quarter (FREE)
May 8
- Chamber Music Series: Ali and Gosia – 12pm, Ancient City Baptist Church (FREE)
- Young Performers Recital – 4:30pm, Memorial Presbyterian Church (FREE)
- A Little Night Music: Ghost Tropic – 7pm, The Colonial Quarter (FREE)
- Romanza Dance Kaleidoscope – 7:30pm, Lewis Auditorium ($5-$15)
- Chamber Music Series: The Lawson Ensemble and Oboe – 12pm, Ancient City Baptist Church (FREE)
May 9
- Chamber Music Series: Kathy and Friends – 12pm, Ancient City Baptist Church (FREE)
- The Three Tellers present “St. Augustine’s Scoundrels” – 12pm, Corazon Cinema & Cafe ($10-$15)
- Young Performers Recital – 4:30pm, Memorial Presbyterian Church (FREE)
- A Little Night Music: Sam Pacetti – 7pm, The Colonial Quarter (FREE)
May 10
- Martial Arts Demonstration – 6:30pm, Willie Galimore Center (FREE)
- A Little Night Music: Matanzas Tap – 6:30pm, The Colonial Quarter (FREE)
- A Little Night Music: Bret Blackshear – 7pm, The Colonial Quarter (FREE)
- Jazz at Lincolnville Museum – 7:30pm, Lincolnville Museum and Cultural Center (FREE)
May 11
- Chamber Music Series: St. Johns Center for the Arts Chamber Chorus – 12pm, Ancient City Baptist Church (FREE)
- Young Performers Music Series: The St. Augustine Youth Chorus – 5:30pm, Ancient City Baptist Church (FREE)
- Spanish Wine Tasting – 6pm, The Gifted Cork ($10)
- A Little Night Music: Mama Blue – 7pm, Plaza de la Constitucion (FREE)
- A Classic Theatre presents “Lysistrata” – 7:30pm, Gamache-Koger Theatre at Flagler College ($20)
May 12
- Chamber Music Series: The North Florida Women’s Chorale – 12pm, Ancient City Baptist Church (FREE)
- The 24th Annual HAWKE “Dine on the Wild Side” – 5pm, St. Augustine Alligator Farm ($5-$40)
- A Classic Theatre presents Lysistrata – 7:30pm, Gamache-Koger Theatre at Flagler College ($20)
- Geek Out Art Show, Vol. 2 – 12pm, Willie Galimore Center ($5)
May 13
- A Classic Theatre presents Lysistrata – 2pm, Gamache-Koger Theatre at Flagler College ($20)
- Where Art Meets History – 2-5pm, St. Augustine Art Association (FREE)
- The St. Augustine Community Chorus Concert: Not One Sparrow is Forgotten – 3pm, Ancient City Baptist Church ($20-$25)
HEADLINERS
Cinco de Mayo in the Plaza
May 5, 7-9pm
Plaza de la Constitucion
Caribeño Tropical is the premier Latin Band from Tampa, FL. They play all genres of Latin music, such as Salsa, Merengue, Bachata, Cumbia, Bolero, Danzón, Latin Jazz and more. The all-star line up of professional musicians includes two singers who can swing with the best and also deliver romantic ballads. This energetic group will put everyone in dance mode! Also on the bill is Mariachi Garibaldi, an authentic style Mariachi band from Tampa who plays original songs and also covers of famous Mexican artists such Juan Gabriel, Vicente Fernandez, Jose Jose, Antonio Aguilar and many others. Their unique sound represents the street style of the old Garibaldi.
Bring your chairs and dancing shoes and celebrate Cinco de Mayo with Caribeno Tropical and Mariachi Garibaldi! The event is free and open to the public.
Hot Hot Harmony
May 6, 2:30pm
Lewis Auditorium
If you like your tunes with an attitude and a whole lot of fun, this show is a can’t miss double-header featuring two fabulously harmonious groups. Andrew C. White, Sammy Pawlak, Marshall Webb, and Doug Teel began singing together in the early nineties while performing with the Hollywood Hi-Tones at Universal Studios Florida. Return 2 Zero was formed in 1994 and began singing at various theme parks and conventions. They competed in several national a cappella competitions, winning prestigious honors in group and arrangement categories. The extraordinary arranging talents of Doug Teel and Marshall Webb have carved out the sound that millions have grown to love from Return 2 Zero.
The Satin Dolls are composed of Carol Becker, LaNae Luttrell, and Jennifer Rafferty. Based in Orlando, they’ve been entertaining Florida audiences since the early 1990’s, sometimes performing acappella and other times backed up by their band of extraordinary instrumentalists. Today, they appear with keyboardist Paul Rizzo, drummer James “Cadillac” Cardarelli and bassist Jim Lucas. They’ve performed many times at central FL venues like Fantasy of Flight, The Villages Savannah Center, Church Street Station, Walt Disney World resorts and hotels and country clubs all over the state.
Kaleidoscope of Dance
May 8, 7:30pm
Lewis Auditorium
Romanza Festivale presents its fourth Dance Kaleidoscope, showcasing all styles of dance from aerial dancing, belly dancing, tap dancing to ballet and ballroom styles. Performers in this lively show run the gamut from highly professional tap, hip-hop, and ballroom dancers to skilled, talented students from public and private institutions engaged in the preparation of future professionals, to those equally skilled and talented who dance exclusively to nurture their bodies and souls. The program demonstrates how thoroughly dance is entrenched in our sense of community, our sense of self, and our artistic life in St. Augustine.
Tickets are $15. Children 12 and under are free.
Learn more about the 2018 Romanza Festivale and see the full schedule by visiting www.romanzafestivale.com. All images via Romanza St. Augustine Facebook page.
To find more events in St. Augustine, visit our online calendar of events!
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