About

The Festival

The St. Augustine History Festival was created and conceived by UFHSA (University of Florida Historic St. Augustine, Inc.) for the purpose of generating excitement about the history of America’s oldest city. Our goal is to showcase every era of St. Augustine’s long and storied past through the 30 Special Events and Historic Venues listed below – from our founding in 1565 to the most advanced technology available in 2023 to research and study every year in-between. American history began here, and no one tells our story better than we do – come out and enjoy our city!

History Festival Events

Special EventsThursday, May 11th
Flagler College / St. Augustine Historical Society6:00 - 7:00 Special Talk Drs. Johnson/Broadwell
Participating Venues
The Colonial Quarter / Colonial Oak Music ParkAll Day: Special PBS Documentary Viewing
Flagler College Historic Tours10:00 a.m. & 2:00 p.m. Historic Tours Discount
Fort Mose State Park and MuseumAll Day: Afro-Cuban Art Exhibit/Music
Fountain of Youth Archaeological ParkAll Day: The Artwork of Theodore Morris
Governor’s House Cultural Center and MuseumAll Day: Special Historic Map Exhibit
All Day: New Additions to Vickers Collection
Lincolnville Museum and Cultural Center10:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. - Daily Tours
Noon 19th-Century Fashion, 2:00pm Colonial Architecture, Daily Tours 11:00 - 4:00
St. Augustine Historical SocietyAll Day: History Festival Special Exhibits
St. Augustine Lighthouse and Maritime Museum10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Boatworks and Archaeology
Villa Zorayda Museum11:00 - 2:00 Local Artists Historic Artwork Display
Historic Houses of Worship
Trinity Parish11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Docent Guided Church Tour
Cathedral Basilica of St. AugustineSelf-Guided Tours
St. Photios Orthodox Greek Shrine10:00 - 5:00 Guided Tours Reservations Requied
National Shrine of Our Lady le LecheFestival Tour Times 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Special EventsFriday, May 12th
UF/Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension - St. Johns County10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Live Animal Exhibit
Lincolnville Museum and Cultural Center2:00 - 4:00 Curator’s Talk: Black Exploitation Through Currency
Tolomato Cemetery3:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. Scavenger Hunt
St. Augustine Historical Society4:00 - 5:00 Special Talk Dr. Christine Miller on Indigenous Medical Practices
Drake’s Raid Encampment10:00 - 5:00 Historic Encampment at SAHS
Participating Venues
The Colonial Quarter / Colonial Oak Music ParkAll Day: Special PBS Documentary Viewing
Flagler College Historic Tours10:00 a.m. & 2:00 p.m. Historic Tours Discount
Fountain of Youth Archaeological ParkAll Day: The Artwork of Theodore Morris
Governor’s House Cultural Center and MuseumAll Day: Special Historic Map Exhibit
All Day: New Additions to Vickers Collection
Lincolnville Museum and Cultural Center10:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Daily Tours
Noon British St. Augustine 2:00 Happy 130th!!!, Daily Tours 11:00 - 4:00
Spanish Military Hospital
St. Augustine Historical SocietyAll Day: History Festival Special Exhibits
SAHS Research Library10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Book Sale at Library
St. Augustine Historical SocietyDrake’s Raid Encampment
Villa Zorayda Museum11:00 - 2:00 Local Artists Historic Artwork Display
Ximenez-Fatio House Museum11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Free Family Events
Historic Houses of Worship
Memorial Presbyterian Chuch11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Church Tours
Trinity Parish11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Docent Guided Church Tour
Cathedral Basilica of St. AugustineAll Day: Self-Guided Tours
St. Photios Orthodox Greek Shrine10:00 - 5:00 Guided Tours Reservations Requied
St. Cyprian’s Episcopal ChurchHistory Festival Tour Times 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
National Shrine of Our Lady le LecheFestival Tour Times - 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Special EventsSaturday, May 13th
City of St. Augustine9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. The Window Workshop
Fort Mose Historical Society2:00 - 3:00 Special Talk, Dr. Jane Landers
Drake’s Raid Encampment10:00 - 5:00 Historic Encampment at SAHS
Drake’s Raid Reenactment7:00 - English Victory! Battle through the Old City
Participating Venues
Castillo de San Marcos10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Special Family Activities
The Colonial Quarter / Colonial Oak Music ParkAll Day: Reenactors, Music, Historic House Grand Opening
Flagler College Historic Tours10:00 a.m. & 2:00 p.m. Historic Tours Discount
Florida National Guard Museum / National Cemetery10:30 a.m. Guided tour of National Cemetery
9:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. Barracks/Grounds Tour
Fort Mose State Park and MuseumAll Day: Afro-Cuban, Art Exhibit/Music
Fountain of Youth Archaeological ParkAll Day: The Artwork of Theodore Morris
Governor’s House Cultural Center and MuseumAll Day: Special Historic Map Exhibit
All Day: New Additions to Vickers Collection
Lincolnville Museum and Cultural Center10:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Daily Tours
11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Daily Tours
Spanish Military Hospital11:00 p.m. & 2:00 p.m. "Duel on Aviles"
St. Augustine Historical SocietyAll Day: History Festival Special Exhibits
Drake’s Raid Encampment
Villa Zorayda Museum11:00 - 2:00 Local Artists Historic Artwork Display
Ximenez-Fatio House Museum10:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Free Family Events
Historic Houses of Worship
Ancient City Baptish Church11:00 - 3:00 Church Tours 2:00 Talk by Win Thornton
Trinity Parish11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Docent Guided Church Tour
Cathedral Basilica of St. AugustineSelf-Guided Tours
St. Photios Orthodox Greek Shrine10:00 - 5:00 Guided Tours Reservations Requied
St. Cyprian’s Episcopal ChurchHistory Festival Tour Times 12:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
St. Benedict the Moor Catholic ChurchSpecial Tours 10:00 - 2:00
National Shrine of Our Lady le LecheFestival Tour Times 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Participating VenuesSunday, May 14th
Flagler College Historic Tours10:00 a.m. & 2:00 p.m. Historic Tours Discount
Fountain of Youth Archaeological ParkAll Day: The Artwork of Theodore Morris
Governor’s House Cultural Center and MuseumAll Day: Special Historic Map Exhibit
All Day: New Additions to Vickers Collection
St. Augustine Historical SocietyAll Day: History Festival Special Exhibits
Historic Houses of Worship
Cathedral Basilica of St. AugustineSelf-Guided Tours
St. Photios Orthodox Greek Shrine10:00 - 5:00 Guided Tours Reservations Requied
St. Paul A.M.E. Church12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Art Show and Sale
6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Community Gospel Concert
St. Cyprian’s Episcopal ChurchHistory Festival Tour Times 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
National Shrine of Our Lady le LecheFestival Tour Times 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

More about our

Participating Venues

Castillo de San Marcos

Experience St. Augustine’s National Monument – the oldest masonry fort in the continental United States

The Colonial Quarter

Fine Shops and Tavern Dining Surrounded by History

Flagler College

Special History Festival Programs and Tours

Florida National Guard Museum and National Cemetery

Two Separate and Insightful Tour Opportunities at the Nation's Oldest Militia/National Guard Unit

Fort Mose State Park and Museum

Fort Mose, America's First Free All-Black Community

Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park

Special History Festival Programs at America’s First Colony - Where Legend Meets History

Governor's House Cultural Center and Museum

On the Map - Florida's Territorial Period

Lincolnville Museum and Cultural Center

The Road to Black History Runs Through Lincolnville

Peña-Peck House

Enjoy a History Festival Special Tour: “Secrets from The Peña-Peck House Collection”

Spanish Military Hospital

Spanish Military Hospital Presents: "The Duel on Aviles”

St. Augustine Historical Society/Oldest House Museums Complex

Visit St. Augustine's Oldest House Museums Complex and Historical Gardens

St. Augustine Lighthouse and Maritime Museum

Find Out What's Happening at the Lighthouse during St. Augustine History Festival

Villa Zorayda

The Villa Zorayda Museum- A Historic Gilded Age Masterpiece.

Ximenez-Fatio House Museum

Free Family Programs during St. Augustine History Festival

A PBS Documentary

Secrets of the Dead:
The Secrets of Spanish Florida

Before Jamestown and Pocahontas – before Plymouth Rock and the Pilgrims – there was only St. Augustine, a culturally diverse colonial experiment born from dire necessities of imperial proportions in the eye of a storm. The University of Florida Historic St. Augustine, Inc. present this four-hour PBS documentary that identifies the beginnings of America’s true First Colony. Narrated by Jimmy Smits, you will see a story of early America that most people have no idea exists. This fascinating DVD is available for purchase at each of the St. Augustine History Festival’s participating venues.

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