In addition to Celebrate 450!’s entertainment lineup, there are a number of cultural and commemorative events taking place in downtown St. Augustine Sept. 4 – 8, 2015, as part of the 450th celebrations.
EMMA — Sunday, September 6
3 – 7:30pm
EMMA at the Amphitheatre
EMMA Concert Association presents Fiesta 450!. This performance at The St. Augustine Amphitheatre on Anastasia Island provides an evening of entertainment that showcases St. Augustine’s Spanish heritage.
4 – 5:30pm
MUSIC CONCERT
Local performing arts organizations will produce the first performance (St. Augustine Orchestra, St. Augustine Community Chorus, St. Augustine Community Youth Chorus, First Coast Opera & Limelight Theatre). This performance will be free to the public and gates open at 3 p.m.
5:30 – 7pm
HAPPENING on the grounds
The St. Augustine Textile Arts Guild, Heritage (re-enactors) organizations, and representatives from the Castillo and St. George Players. The Art Association will provide hands-on activities and demonstrations geared toward family involvement.
6 – 7:30pm
VIP Ticketed Event
$100 per person (only 100 tickets available). Ticket includes hors d’oeuvres, wine, preferred seating and parking. Attendees will be served by the 450th Youth Ambassadors.
7:30pm
EVENING CONCERT: Ensemble Español
The ensemble will perform all styles of Spanish dance – Flamenco, Classical Spanish Dance “Estilizatión, Folklore, 18th Century Dances, Ballet (Classical Dance) and Castanets. Tickets $5 – $39 available at the Amphitheatre Box Office. www.staugamphitheatre.com
CAKE CUTTING & PROCLAMATION — Monday, September 7
12 – 5pm
Birthday Celebrations in the Square
Beginning at noon, The Driftwoods will perform in the square, until time for cake cutting.
2 – 3pm
Anniversary Proclamation
From 2 pm – 3pm Mayor and Commissioners will present Official 450th Anniversary Proclamation.
3 – 5pm
St. Augustine’s Royal Family Cuts the Cake
Did someone say cake? That’s right. It wouldn’t be a birthday without a cake would it? St. Augustine’s Royal Family who will be cutting the cake are appointed community members who have royal ties.
About the Royal Family
The 2015 Royal Family is Joseph Riley Solana — King Juan Carlos; Allison Nicole Courter — Princess Margarita Maria; and Kerri Suzanne Alexander — Queen Mariana. The newly-selected royal trio all have the requisite family genealogy and heritage tracing back to the early settlers of St. Augustine and to Spain.
COMMEMORATIVE EVENTS — Tuesday, September 8
Countdown Clock Ceremony, Menéndez Landing Re-Enactment, Procession & Commemorative Mass 450 years to the day of St. Augustine’s founding is an authentic, historical re-enactment of Pedro Menéndez’s landing at the Mission Nombre de Dios. A procession takes spectators to The Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine for a Commemorative Mass.
7:45am
Countdown clock ceremony at the Visitor Information
Diocesan Events Open to the Public:
9am
Menéndez landing re-enactment at the Mission Nombre de Dios
10am
Grant procession to the Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine
11am
Commemorative Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine (Due to limited seating, invitation only). There will be a large video screen located in the west courtyard of the Cathedral to view the Mass. Communion will be available. Seating will also be available at the Flagler College Auditorium but communion will not be provided.
5:30pm — Evening Prayer
Solemn Vespers with Cardinal Sean O’Malley as the principal celebrant at the Cathedral Basilica.
