Posts tagged Zombie Express
Halloween adventures await in old St. Augustine
Oct 14th
Oldest City is Perfect for Halloween Fun!
When it comes to selecting the perfect place for ghostly fun, it’s difficult to find a more haunted location than the Nation’s oldest city, St. Augustine, Florida.
With nearly 450 years of history, ancient narrow streets, two cemeteries with graves dating back hundreds of years, a brooding Spanish fortress and endless stories of roaming spirits and things that go bump in the night, it’s the place to be for all things other-worldly. Despite daylight’s warm Florida sun and beautiful Atlantic beaches, every night of the year features ghost tours and spooky encounters. But when Halloween approaches, that’s when the spirits really get busy.
When it comes to selecting the perfect place for ghostly fun, it’s difficult to find a more haunted location than the Nation’s oldest city, St. Augustine, Florida.
With nearly 450 years of history, ancient narrow streets, two cemeteries with graves dating back hundreds of years, a brooding Spanish fortress and endless stories of roaming spirits and things that go bump in the night, it’s the place to be for all things other-worldly. Despite daylight’s warm Florida sun and beautiful Atlantic beaches, every night of the year features ghost tours and spooky encounters. But when Halloween approaches, that’s when the spirits really get busy.
Here are some St. Augustine Halloween adventures awaiting intrepid souls and fun-seeking spirits:
October 1- 31
ST. AUGUSTINE CITY WALKS HALLOWEEN ORIGINS TOURS
Explore the stories of how many of our present day Halloween customs began… Bonfires, Jack-O-Lanterns, Costumes & Masks, Trick-or-Treating, and more! During the entire month of October, ALL of the St. Augustine City Walks’ regularly scheduled evening tours will feature enchanting stories on the history, myths and legends of the Original Halloween, also known as Samhain- The Celtic New Year. Join one of their famous Historic Pub Crawls, Creepy Crawls, or History, Mystery & Murder tours for this special Halloween event! All tours depart downtown regularly, seven days a week. Special discounts available for online booking with all tours. For more information and to reserve your space visit www.StAugustineCityWalks.com or call 904.540.3476.
October 1-31
ZOMBIEVILLE
This is an interactive paintball experience of horrific proportions! Load up and take aim at the undead, enjoy tales told in the hut of the ancient Zombie, King Motumbo and take a ride on the Zombie Express. Tickets are on sale at Ripley’s or at the door. Zombieville can be found at 254 San Marco Ave, at the old Sugar Mill. Doors open at 7:30 every Friday and Saturday night through October. Prices are $10 at the door, or $15 for the Zombie Express leaving from the original Ripley’s.Believe It or Not Museum at 19 San Marco Avenue. You can also purchase Zombieville tickets for only $5 with the purchase of a Ghost Train Adventure ticket. For more information, call 904.377.2607.
October 1-31
GHOST TRAIN ADVENTURE
Board Ripley’s black-as-midnight Ghost Train and travel through old St. Augustine in search of the paranormal. Armed with an electromagnetic detection device, passengers may detect the presence of supernatural beings at the Castillo de San Marcos, Huguenot Cemetery and Ripley’s very-own Castle Warden. Tickets: $26 adults: $13 children. 904.377.2607.
October 1 – 31
GHOSTS AND GRAVESTONES FRIGHTSEEING ADVENTURES
Explore the darker side of the Nation’s Oldest City with ghost guides and re-live historic haunted tales and legends found at every turn. The tour includes a visit to the Lighthouse Park, where the ghosts of three little girls are said to still haunt the place of their tragic drowning, and a ghost-hunting excursion to the Old Jail, famous for the paranormal activity found there. Voted St. Augustine’s Best Ghost Tour three years in a row! Ghosts & Gravestones tours leave nightly from the Old Town Trolley Welcome Center at 27 San Marco Ave., starting at 8:00 p.m. Reservations are required. Tickets are $26 for adults and $14 for children ages 6 – 12 (5 and under are free). Please call (904) 829-3800 for reservations..
October 1-31 (Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays only)
ST. AUGUSTINE LIGHTHOUSE DARK OF THE MOON TOURS
Go on the only tour that takes participants to the top of the tower of the St. Augustine Lighthouse and into the eerie Keeper’s House. Find out why the Syfy Network’s Ghost Hunters program called the Lighthouse the “Mona Lisa of paranormal sites.” Tours begin at 7:30 p.m. and tickets are $25 for adults ($35 on Halloween) and $20 for children ages 7-11($30 on Halloween). Reservations are required. (Private 90-minute, 3-hour and 5-hour tours are also available.) Call 904.829.0745
October 1-31
A VICTORIAN HALLOWEEN
Experience a Halloween from days-gone-by at the historic Villa Zorayda Museum. Built in 1883, this unique poured-concrete structure is a scaled replica of a portion of Spain’s famous Alhambra. Throughout the month, the museum will feature Halloween decorations from the late 1880’s and the early 1900’s. Visitors may even see the ghost of Franklin Smith, architect and builder of the house, as he writes a letter to his beloved wife, Laura. The fascinating history of the building comes alive through a state-of-the-art guided audio tour. Located at 83 King Street in historic St. Augustine, admission to the Villa Zorayda is $10 for adults; $4 for children ages 8-12; under 7 free. For more information, go to www.villazorayda.com or call 904.829.9887
October 1 – 31
HAUNTED HEARSE RIDES
Experience a genuine St. Augustine ghost tour – from the eternal comfort of a haunted hearse! Choose from a guided tour down the Ancient City’s oldest streets; hear intoxicating tales while enjoying rich ales on a pub tour or go on a more than four-hour total immersion trip into the paranormal world. Tickets range from $16 to $66 depending on the chosen adventure. For more information, call 904.824-8840, or visit http://www.ghostaugustine.com
October 1-31 (Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays only)
HALLOWEEN CORN MAZE
Get hopelessly lost in a nine-acre maze! Fun for the entire family! This third annual maze is at the Sykes and Cooper Farms off SR 207 in Elkton, Florida (about five miles east of I-95 Exit 311). Plus, don’t miss Jack the braying donkey, the awesome pumpkin slingshot and the cow train! Tickets (cash only) are $8 per person (children under 2 are free). The maze is open on Fridays 5-10 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday 1-5 p.m. For more information, go to www.sycofarms.com or call 904.692.1084.
October 1-31 (Friday and Saturday nights only)
GHOST HUNT
Get trained to be a ghost hunter by professional investigators! Spend three hours using paranormal-detecting equipment inside the Old Jail and learn about the amazing amount of paranormal activity that has been observed in the building. The tour is from 10:45 p.m. until 2 a.m. Admission is $80 per person; $35 for children under 12 (children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult). For reservations (required), call 904.829.3800.
October 12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 27, 28 and 31
HALLOWEEN EXPRESS: NIGHTMARE IN THE MUSEUM
Old Town Trolley Tours of St. Augustine has another new adventure, custom-made for Halloween. Prepare yourself for an evening of fun, scares, and ghost stories as you are guided through the streets of America’s Oldest City aboard our Halloween Express. Visit the town’s most haunted museum, Potter’s Haunted House of Wax, for an up-close and personal encounter with the souls of the dead, living within. Tickets are $20 per person and include entry to Potter’s Haunted House of Wax. Children under 5 not permitted – this is a frightening experience. Tours begin at 8 p.m. from the Old Town Trolley Welcome Center at 27 San Marco Avenue. Reservations required. 904.829.3800 or 904.826.3663
October 12, 13, 19, 20, 26 & 27
A GHOSTLY EXPERIENCE HALLOWEEN 2012
Just for Halloween, Ghost Tours of St. Augustine has placed a supernatural twist on their infamous “A Ghostly Experience Walking Tour”! Led by a licenses tour guide, participants will meander the haunted streets of the Nation’s oldest city and encounter crazed, feisty and swash-buckling spirits anxious to share the tale of their mysterious, warranted and fitting deaths. The tours last approximately one hour and depart every 30 minutes beginning at 8 p.m. from 2 St. George Street. Tickets are $15 per person (ages 6 and under free) and reservations are required. Call 904.829.1122.
October 14
SUNDAY SUPPER WITH THE SPIRITS
Have a an authentic Gilded Age dinner at the 173-year old Dow House and return to the year 1906 to meet the spirits of two of St. Augustine’s daring daughters – Dr. Luella Day McConnell, better known as Diamond Lil, and Ida Alice Flagler, the second wife of millionaire developer Henry Flagler. The evening includes a lantern-lit, guided tour of the nine historic homes on the property and an elegant, plated supper served by candlelight on linen-covered tables. The authentic menu includes sliced beef tenderloin with steamed prawns, horseradish sauce, potatoes maison, steamed carrots, Nantucket salad and Key Lime cake. Red and white wines served throughout the evening. Tickets are $59 per person or $100 per couple and includes a copy of “Daring Daughters” written by local author Karen Harvey. Reservations required. Call 904.823.9722 or 904.501.1253.
October 19, 20, 26 and 27
FLORIDA’S HAUNTED TRAILS
Experience a hauntingly fun evening with the entire family at the Florida Agricultural Museum in Palm Coast. Activities include a wagon ride through spooky woods, haunted houses, storytelling, magic shows, carnival games, headless horsemen, face painting, the singing pumpkin and the scariest stuff imaginable! It all takes place from 6 to 10 p.m. Admission is 10, toddlers under 30 inches in height are admitted at no charge. Florida Agricultural Museum is located 17 miles south of St. Augustine off U.S. 1 at 7900 Old Kings Road North, Palm Coast. For more information, call 386.446.7630 or visit www.MyAgMuseum.com.
October 26 & 27
CHILDREN’S HALLOWEEN WITH MOTHER GOOSEBUMPS
For the very young and the young at heart, join Puppeteer Mother Goosebumps and Lucy Goosey for a “Children’s Halloween with Mother Goosebumps” walking ghost tour. Little ones should come in costume to enjoy a milder version of the award-winning walking ghost tour! Goodies Bags will be provided for each paying child! The 30-minute walking tours start at 5, 6 & 7 p.m. from 2 St. George Street in St. Augustine. Tickets are $5 per person. This tour is rated G and children must be accompanied by an adult. Reservations required. 904-829-1122
October 26 & 27
CREATURES OF THE NIGHT AT THE ALLIGATOR FARM
Dress in your favorite costume and head to the St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park for a fun and safe way for the entire family to enjoy Halloween — perfect for children ages 2-11! Young ghosts and goblins can wander the wild walkway and encounter costumed animal keepers with creepy creatures and candy! It all takes place from 5:30 to 7 p.m. The night concludes with a special Alligator Feeding Show and a raffle drawing at 7:15 p.m. Admission is $8 for adults and $6 for children. For more information, call 904.824.3337 or visit www.alligatorfarm.com.
October 26, 27, 28 & 31
ANCIENT CITY TOURS: HALLOWEEN 2012
Ever wonder where Halloween traditions came from or how the legend of St. Augsutine’s Love Tree began? These and many other questions about Halloween haunts will be answered on these special Ancient City Tours. Departing every 30 minutes beginning at 7 p.m. these tours get off to an auspicious start from the Ancient City office at 6 Cordova Street – next door to the infamous Tolomato Cemetery. Tickets are $15 each (under 6 free) and reservations are required. Call 904.827.0807 www.staugustineghosttours.com
October 27
SPOOKTACULAR SHOPPING
Uptown Saturday Night takes on a festive, Halloween theme when the galleries, antique stores and unique shops along St. Augustine’s San Marco Avenue stay open until 9 p.m. Meet-the-artists, book signings, live music and more create a lively, Halloween atmosphere for bargain hunters. Plus, there’s free parking at the Mission Nombre de Dios. For more information, call 904.823.9263.
October 28
COSTUME PARADE AND TRICK OR TREATING
Join Ancient City Tours for their annual Halloween costume parade/contest and trick or treating for the children. The parade will begin at 2 p.m. at the Clock Tower at the St. Augustine Visitor Information Center, 1 Castillo Drive, and end in the downtown Plaza for the costume judging. (Registration will begin at 1:30 p.m.). Then safe trick or treating will take place along the historic streets of the downtown area from 3:30 – 5 p.m. It’s all FREE! For more information, call 904.827.0807
October 31 only
TRICK OR TREAT GHOST TRAIN
Family fun aboard Ripley’s Ghost Train featuring ghost stories, spooky songs and a stop at the Sugar Mill for trick or treating with Zombies before returning to Ripley’s bounce house and balloon animals! The tour is from 6 to 7 p.m. Tickets are $7 for adults and $4 for children ages 4-11 (costumed children ride for free!) For information and reservations, call 904.824.1606 or visit www.ghosttrainadventure.com
October 31 only
MIDNIGHT AT THE MUSEUM
End Halloween at midnight and catch the returning spirits until 4 a.m. at Ripley’s historic Castle Warden. This exclusive investigation is limited to 30 people, all of whom will receive free use of EMF meters and digital voice recorders. The castle is one of the nation’s most well-known haunted structures and has been visited three times by The Atlantic Paranormal Society (TAPS) featuring the celebrated Ghost Hunters. Participants will be briefed on each room’s paranormal significance and be given free time to roam through the castle. They will also see an exclusive screening of the pilot episode of Anomaly, the new 3-D paranormal series, filmed at Castle Warden. Tickets are $75 per person. For reservations, call 904.824.1606 or www.ghosttrainadventure.com
Located midway between Daytona Beach and Jacksonville, Florida’s Historic Coast features historic St. Augustine, the outstanding golf and seaside elegance of Ponte Vedra, 42 miles of pristine Atlantic beaches – the same beaches that greeted Ponce de Leon on his historic 1513 discovery of the land he named La Florida – an area whose boundaries included what would later become the eastern United States. For more information on events, activities, holiday getaways and vacation opportunities in St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra & The Beaches, go to the Visitors and Convention Bureau website at www.FloridasHistoricCoast.com, become a fan on FACEBOOK, or call 1.800.653.2489
Source: Visitors and Convention Bureau
This weekend in St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra, and the beaches, October 12-14
Oct 10th
Friday: October 12
The Flavors of Florida’s Historic Coast Top Chef Cook-off
Chefs from all Flavors of Florida’s Historic Coast restaurants will gather at the Renaissance World Golf Village
Resort Convention Center and Beach Club for a cook-off competition with local celebrity judges. A $20 donation admission fee gains access to the competitions and samplings from all the participating restaurants and benefits Home Again St. Johns. Visit www.historiccoastflavors.com
Celebrate! THE PLAYERS Benefit For The Arts
THE PLAYERS host dinner and dancing under the stars to support The Cultural Center at Ponte Vedra Beach. The evening events will feature an open bar, silent and live auctions, and back by popular demand — Atlanta’s best dance band, Party on the Moon! It all takes place from 5:30 to 10:30 p.m. at TPC Sawgrass Clubhouse, 110 Championship Way, in Ponte Vedra Beach. For ticket prices and more information, call 904-280-0614, email jhixenbaugh@ccpvb.org, or visit www.ccpvb.org
O.A.R. Concert
Of A Revolution (O.A.R.)will perform at 6:30 p.m. at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre, 1340 C A1A South in St. Augustine. Tickets are $32.50 in advance and $35 day of show. www.StAugAmphitheatre.com 904-209-0367.
Friday and Saturday: October 12 & 13
Old Town Trolleys: Nightmare In The Museum
Take a riding ghost tour through the darkened streets of Old St. Augustine
, including a stop at Potter’s House of Wax which has been darkly rumored as a portal between the living and the dead. Tours start 8 p.m. from the Old Town Trolley Welcome Center, 27 San Marco Ave., St. Augustine. Tickets are $20. 904-829-3800 www.trustedtours.com.
A Ghostly Experience Halloween 2012
A Ghostly Experience tour guides lead a walking tour through the haunted streets of the Nation’s Oldest City, for encounters with crazed, feisty, and swash-buckling spirits that linger around to tell their tales of their mysterious, warranted, and fitting deaths. Tickets are $15 per person. The tours depart every 30 minutes starting at 8 p.m. from 2 St. George Street, St. Augustine. Reservations are required, and space is limited. 904- 829-1122 www.GhostToursofStAugustine.com
Zombieville
This is an interactive paintball experience of horrific proprotions! Load up and take aim at the undead, enjoy tales told in the hut of the ancient Zombie, King Motumbo and take a ride on the Zombie Express. Tickets are on sale at Ripley’s or at the door. Zombieville can be found at 254 San Marco Ave, at the old Sugar Mill. Doors open at 7:30 every Friday and Saturday night through October. Prices are $10 at the door, or $15 for the Zombie Express leaving from the original Ripley’s.Believe It or Not Museum at 19 San Marco Avenue. You can also purchase Zombieville tickets for only $5 with the purchase of a Ghost Train Adventure ticket. For more information, call 904.377.2607.
Ghost Hunt
Get trained to be a ghost hunter by professional investigators! Spend three hours using paranormal-detecting equipment inside the Old Jail
and learn about the amazing amount of paranormal activity that has been observed in the building. The tour is from 10:45 p.m. until 2 a.m. Admission is $80 per person; $35 for children under 12 (children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult). For reservations (required), call 904.829.3800.
Friday, Saturday and Sunday: October 12, 13 & 14
15th Annual Greek Festival
St. Augustine’s fascinating Greek Heritage is celebrated by Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church with a delicious assortment of Greek foods, pastries and beverages along with nonstop entertainment with live Greek music by the Hellenic Band and performances by Greek dance troupes. On Saturday at 9 a.m. there will be a Ready, Set, Go Greek-Fest Run. The Festival takes place from 4 to 9 p.m. on Friday; 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday at Francis Field behind St. Augustine’s Historic Downtown Parking Garage on Castillo Drive. Admission is $2, children under 12 are free. 904.829.0504. www.stauggreekfest.com
Premium Outlets Pink Event
Throughout October, St. Augustine Premium Outlet shoppers who stop by the Information Center and dontate $10 to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure will receive a special savings card filled with “25% off one single item” redeemable at Brooks Brothers, Calvin Klein, J.Crew, Polo, Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger and many more. www.premiumoutlets.com
Pellicer Creek Raid
Living history groups from around the Southeast demonstrate what Civil War military life was like in 1864. At 1 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, infantry, cavalry and artillery troops will stage a battle. The encampment is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Florida Agricultural Museum, located on the corner of Old Kings Road and U.S. 1 in Palm Coast. Admission is $8 for adults and $6 for children, toddlers and infants are free. 386.446.7630. www.MyAgMuseum.org
Ripple Effect Eco Kayak Tours
Relax, unwind and experience nature at its finest on one of Ripple Effect Eco Tours’ outings.
Saturday at 9 a.m., paddle through an enchanted forest on the meandering waters of Faver-Dykes State Park and Pellicer Creek. Morning and sunset tours are also available all weekend at Marineland and the GTM Reserve. Tours include the finest kayaking gear, guide and instruction – perfect for beginners. Tours are $55 for adults and $45 for age 15 and under. For details and reservations, go to www.rippleeffectecotours.com or call 904.347.1565
Sea Monsters!
Venom! Ultra Vision! Glow in the Dark! These are some of the fascinating “monster” characteristics of some sea animals. Daily in October, the Sea Monsters Traveling Exhibit engages visitors in these mysterious and intriguing attributes, and explains how they are adaptations to extreme underwater environments. Learn about animals that use these special survival strategies. Included in General Admission Price, $9.75 Adult General Admission, $7.75 Child General Admission
www.staugustinelighthouse.org
St. Augustine Lighthouse Dark of the Moon Tours
Go on the only tour that takes participants to the top of the tower of the St. Augustine Lighthouse and into the eerie Keeper’s House. Find out why the Syfy Network’s Ghost Hunters program called the Lighthouse the “Mona Lisa of paranormal sites.” Tours begin at 7:30 p.m. and tickets are $25 for adults ($35 on Halloween) and $20 for children ages 7-11($30 on Halloween). Reservations are required. (Private 90-minute, 3-hour and 5-hour tours are also available.) Call 904.829.0745
Halloween Corn Maze
Get hopelessly lost in a nine-acre maze! Fun for the entire family! This third annual maze is at the Sykes and Cooper Farms off SR 207 in Elkton, Florida (about five miles east of I-95 Exit 311). Plus, don’t miss Jack the braying donkey, the awesome pumpkin slingshot and the cow train! Tickets (cash only) are $8 per person (children under 2 are free). The maze is open on Fridays 5-10 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday 1-5 p.m. For more information, go to www.sycofarms.com or call 904.692.1084.
Saturday: October 13
3rd Annual Fall Festival & Fish Fry
From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the quaint Riverdale United Methodist set along the St. Johns River will host the annual Fall Festival and Fish Fry which features local artisans & crafters, a KIDs Zone lots of food and a new Memorial Garden, church tour and of course the Fried Fish Dinner. RUMC is located at 1028 County Rd. 13 South in Riverdale/St. Johns. 904 806-6254
Tolomato Cemetery Tours
Self-guided and docent led tours are from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Tolomato Cemetery, 
a historic cemetery is located on Cordova Street, the site of an earlier Franciscan Indian mission (Our Lady of Guadalupe of the Tolomato) in St Augustine. Burials officially ceased in 1884. Visits are free of charge, but visitors are encouraged to offer a donation. All money goes to the preservation and restoration of the cemetery. For more information, visit www.tolomatocemetery.com
3rd Annual OceanWise At GTM Reserve
From 5 to 9 p.m. celebrate the estuaries with dinner, entertainment and more. OceanWise takes place at the GTM Environmental Education Center, 500 Guana River Road, Ponte Vedra Beach. 904-823-4500.
Saturday Night at The City Gate
Colonial Spanish soldiers stand guard at the St. Augustine City Gates from 6 to 8 p.m. The public is invited to interact, take pictures and learn more about St. Augustine’s Spanish Military history. The City Gates are located at St. George and Orange Street.
Saturday and Sunday: October 13 & 14
3rd Annual Fiesta de Aviles
Celebrate the history and culture of Aviles Street – the oldest street in the oldest city, St. Augustine, Florida.
The Fiesta begins at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday and the Jazzland All Stars perform from 1-3 p.m. The running of the “bulls” is at 2 p.m. followed by Flamenco Dancing and music throughout the afternoon. From 6:30 until 10 p.m., Mestre Lazaro Santo and the Brazillian Tropicana Show will perform! The fun, food and music continue on Sunday with All Day Sangria – a friendly competition to select the best sangria in St. Augustine. Fiesta admission is free!
Explorer Boat Eco Tour
Ensure a great weekend by hopping on an explorer boat, perfect for navigating the creeks and waterways of St. Augustine. By covering nearly 15 miles you’ll be sure to take in great scenery and see wildlife such as dolphins, ospreys and maybe even a rare manatee! Catch the action at 9:30 or 11:30am and then take the family out for lunch in town. Call St. Augustine Eco Tours at 904-377-7245 to reserve your space today!
Sunday: October 14
Sunday Supper With The Spirits at the Dow Museum of Historic Houses
This delicious and interesting event includes a wine and cheese reception, lantern lit tours of the historic houses, a spirited visit by two of St. Augustine’s famous ladies of the “Gilded Age”, a lovely three course dinner with red and white wine, and a copy of “Daring Daughters”, a book by local author Karen Harvey. The reception begins at 6:30 p.m. The Dow Museum of Historic Houses is located at 149 Cordova Street in St. Augustine. 904-823-9722
Local Resident Specials
NOTE: St. Johns County residents with a valid ID are always admitted free of charge to the Oldest House, the Lightner Museum, the Fountain of Youth (special events excluded), the Ximenez-Fatio House, the Oldest Wooden Schoolhouse, Spanish Military Hospital Museum, and the Historic Tours of Flagler College. The daily tours and wine tastings at the
San Sebastian Winery are free to everyone. Also, admission is free to everyone at the Authentic Old Drug Store, Fort Matanzas National Monument, St. Photios Chapel, the Pena-Peck House, the Father Miguel O’Reilly Museum and the Mission Nombre de Dios Museum (donations are welcomed).
NEW: St. Johns County residents who purchase full-price admisssion to the St. Augustine Lighthouse ($9.50 adults; $7.50 seniors and children 12 and under; free for children under 44 inches in height) can now receive a pass good for free admission for an entire year! The Lighthouse is now open until 6 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. Also, on the first Monday of each month, St. Johns County residents are admitted free to the Dow Museum of Historic Houses, 246 St. George Street, St. Augustine.
NEW: St. Johns County residents with a valid ID now receive FREE admission to the Oldest House in St. Augustine.
Source: Visitors and Convention Bureau
This weekend in St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra, and the Beaches, October 5-7
Oct 3rd
Friday: October 5
First Friday Art Walk
The latest exhibits, music, entertainment and refreshments at more than 20 St. Augustine art galleries.
Old Town Trolleys offer free round-trips to the heart of the art district from the San Sebastian Winery, 157 King Street – or go on your own self-guided art walk. Galleries are open from 5 to 9 p.m. This month’s highlights include graphic artist Tiffany Beasi at Rembrandtz, 131 King Street; Plum Art Gallery, 9 Aviles Street, will unveil its fall art show featuring owners Karen Sheridan and Susanna Richter-Helman along with Thomas Long, Sara Pedigo, Karlene McConnell, Barbara Cornett and Roxanne Horvath; stained-glass artist John Pacheco will be at High Tide Gallery, 51 Cordova Street; Worley Faver Gallery, 11A Aviles Street will feature Worley’s sculptural forms, Martin Gates carvings, David Engdahl’s natural material art, photographer Gail Nicks, painter Rosamond Parrish and pottery by Flo Karshner. Author Dennis Smith will also be there to sign copies of his Swamp Hattie – perfect for Halloween. Amiro Art and Found, 9C Aviles Street, will have Ginny Bullard, Estella Fransbergen, Deane Kellogg, Wendy Mandel McDaniel, Jan Tomlison Master and Marica Myrick Siany display their summer crop of work. For more information, call 904.829.0065. www.artgalleriesofstaugustine.com
Friday and Saturday: October 5 & 6
Spanish Food and Wine Festival
The St. Augustine Spanish Wine & Food Festival will feature national and international wine and food experts including several winemakers from Spain at special dinners at area restaurants and special wine tasting event. On Wednesday and Thursday, Spanish wine paring dinners will take place at the Tasting Room and Rhett’s Piano Bar and Brasserie; Friday Night will feature a special Spanish dinner prepared by 95 Cordova at the River House; and on Saturday afternoon the featured Spanish Wine Tasting event will take place at the St. Augustine Visitor Information Center from 3 – 6 p.m. http://www.staugustinespanishwinefestival.com
First Coast Ballroom And Latin Dance Championships
Pros perform in their dazzling costumes as they Cha-Cha…Samba…Tango…and Waltz their way to the World Masters title. The First Coast Classic takes place at the Renaissance World Golf Resort, located off I-95 at Exit 323 at 500 Legacy Trail in St. Augustine. Tickets are $20 for afternoon events, $40 for evening events, and $55 for front row evening seating. www.FirstCoastClassic.com
ZOMBIEVILLE
This is an interactive paintball experience of horrific proprotions! Load up and take aim at the undead, enjoy tales told in the hut of the ancient Zombie, King Motumbo and take a ride on the Zombie Express. Tickets are on sale at Ripley’s or at the door. Zombieville can be found at 254 San Marco Ave, at the old Sugar Mill. Doors open at 7:30 every Friday and Saturday night through October. Prices are $10 at the door, or $15 for the Zombie Express leaving from the original Ripley’s.Believe It or Not Museum at 19 San Marco Avenue. You can also purchase Zombieville tickets for only $5 with the purchase of a Ghost Train Adventure ticket. For more information, call 904.377.2607.
GHOST HUNT
Get trained to be a ghost hunter by professional investigators! Spend three hours using paranormal-detecting equipment inside the Old Jail and learn about the amazing amount of paranormal activity that has been observed in the building. The tour is from 10:45 p.m. until 2 a.m. Admission is $80 per person; $35 for children under 12 (children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult). For reservations (required), call 904.829.3800.
Friday, Saturday and Sunday: October 5, 6 & 7
ST. AUGUSTINE LIGHTHOUSE DARK OF THE MOON TOURS
Go on the only tour that takes participants to the top of the tower of the St. Augustine Lighthouse and into the eerie Keeper’s House. Find out why the Syfy Network’s Ghost Hunters program called the Lighthouse the “Mona Lisa of paranormal sites.” Tours begin at 7:30 p.m. and tickets are $25 for adults ($35 on Halloween) and $20 for children ages 7-11($30 on Halloween). Reservations are required. (Private 90-minute, 3-hour and 5-hour tours are also available.) Call 904.829.0745
HALLOWEEN CORN MAZE
Get hopelessly lost in a nine-acre maze! Fun for the entire family! This third annual maze is at the Sykes and Cooper Farms off SR 207 in Elkton, Florida (about five miles east of I-95 Exit 311). Plus, don’t miss Jack the braying donkey, the awesome pumpkin slingshot and the cow train! Tickets (cash only) are $8 per person (children under 2 are free). The maze is open on Fridays 5-10 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday 1-5 p.m. For more information, go to www.sycofarms.com or call 904.692.1084.
Saturday: October 6
Pink Up The Pace 5K Walk/Run
Annual Pink up the Pace raises money to assist the uninsured and under-insured in the early detection of breast cancer and increase public awareness of the importance of early detection. The race starts at 8 a.m. from the corner of Orange and Cordova Street in St. Augustine. www.pinkupthepace.org
Historic Weapons Demonstrations At Fort Matanzas
From 12:30 p.m. until 3:30 p.m., authentically clad re-enactors will demonstrate Spanish muskets and cannons. Admission is free including the ferry ride from Rattlesnake Island. Fort Matanzas National Monument is located at 8635 A1A at the south end of Anastasia Island approximately 15 miles south of St. Augustine. 904.471.0116. www.nps.gov/foma.
Sunset Celebration At Vilano Beach Town Center
See a spectacular St. Augustine sunset cast from across the bay at the Vilano Beach Town Center, 75 Vilano Beach Road. This special event includes artistic performers, local arts and crafts and genuine Old Florida surprises. Dine on food samples from businesses along Vilano Road and see why Vilano Beach is the best-kept hidden treasure in the county. Floating docks near the pier allow for waterway transport from the mainland to the island – just as in the early Flagler days. The event is from 3:00 pm to dusk at the Vilano Beach Pier and Pavilion. Free to the public. www.vilanobeachfl.com 904.540-0402.
3rd Annual Hispanic Heritage Festival of St. Johns County
A celebration of Hispanic Heritage on Florida’s Historic Coast. The Festival takes place from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Palencia Club, located at 600 Palencia Drive, St. Augustine and feature music, food and fun for the entire family. St. Johns County schools will be representing various Latin countries. http://hhcsj.org/events.php
We Ain’t Skimpin’ on the Shrimpin’ Sea Monsters, Shrimp and Beer??
Come and enjoy the delicious Low- country Boil and beer at the St. Augustine Lighthouse! Check out the new Sea Monsters exhibit and the upgraded Shrimping Exhibit. Don’t miss the spectacular sunset from the top of the tower! Please join us for this fun filled evening under the stars! Tickets are $45 per person or $80 per couple. Space is limited. Advanced ticket purchase required. Purchase them
HERE. 904.829.0745
Saturday and Sunday: October 6 & 7
Datil Pepper Festival and Cook Off
A celebration of the spicy little Datil Pepper. On Saturday, local restaurants participate in a cook off of recipes using the datil pepper. Judging is from 11:30am – 1pm! Vote for your favorite ‘pepper’ delight. Tickets will be sold for $1 each. On Sunday there will bean Amateur Datil Pepper Hot Sauce contest and a Home and Garden Show. It will all take place at 3111 Agricultural Center Drive, St. Augustine.
Sunday: October 7
St. Ambrose Fall Festival
Fall festival featuring a car show, live music, brats, beer, hay rides, games, plenty of food and Minorcan chowder, arts and crafts, and self-guided tours of historic St Ambrose Catholic Church. The Festival takes place from noon to 4 p.m. at St. Ambrose Catholic Church grounds, 6070 Church Rd, Elkton. 904- 692-1366 www.saintambrose-church.org.
Emma Concert Series Wolfgang David and David Gompper
Violinist Wolfgang David and pianist David Gompper perform at 2 p.m. at the Flagler College Auditorium, 14 Granada Street in St. Augustine. Tickets Are $25. For more information, call 904-797-2800 or visit www.EmmaConcerts.com.
Local Resident Specials
NOTE: St. Johns County residents with a valid ID are always admitted free of charge to the Oldest House, the Lightner Museum, the Fountain of Youth (special events excluded), the Ximenez-Fatio House, the Oldest Wooden Schoolhouse, Spanish Military Hospital Museum, and the Historic Tours of Flagler College. The daily tours and wine tastings at the San Sebastian Winery are free to everyone. Also, admission is free to everyone at the Authentic Old Drug Store, Fort Matanzas National Monument, St. Photios Chapel, the Pena-Peck House, the Father Miguel O’Reilly Museum and the Mission Nombre de Dios Museum (donations are welcomed).
NEW: St. Johns County residents who purchase full-price admisssion to the St. Augustine Lighthouse ($9.50 adults; $7.50 seniors and children 12 and under; free for children under 44 inches in height) can now receive a pass good for free admission for an entire year! The Lighthouse is now open until 6 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. Also, on the first Monday of each month, St. Johns County residents are admitted free to the Dow Museum of Historic Houses, 246 St. George Street, St. Augustine.
NEW: St. Johns County residents with a valid ID now receive FREE admission to the Oldest House in St. Augustine.
Source: Visitors and Convention Bureau
