2023 Festivals & Events in St. Augustine and St. Johns County, Florida

Music & Art by the Sea Concert Series at St. Augustine Beach Pier

May 24-June 28 and Aug. 16-Sept. 27: The 21st annual Music & Art by the Sea concert series runs May 24-June 28 and picks back up Aug. 16-Sept. 27. This is a FREE concert series is held from 7 to 9 p.m. on Wednesdays at the St. Augustine Beach Pier Pavilion, 350 A1A Beach Blvd., St. Augustine Beach. The series features 13 bands playing a wide variety of music, along with food trucks each week. In addition to the music, view artwork by local artists and artisans at The Art Studio, located near the pier. Guests can bring coolers and beach chairs to this event. Parking is limited. Admission is always FREE. More details at www.sabca.org/music-by-the-sea/2023-concert-schedule/

Concerts in the Plaza by City of St. Augustine

June 1-August 31: The City of St. Augustine presents the annual summer music series, Concerts in the Plaza with a  time of 6-8 p.m. every Thursday from June 1 through August 31 in gazebo of the Plaza de la Constitucion in downtown St. Augustine, between King Street and Cathedral Plaza. The lineup includes 14 musical groups — some who have performed for many years during this series, and many others who are new to the St. Augustine stage! Admission is free. Guests are invited to bring chairs for seating. More details at www.CityStAug.com/Concerts

First Friday Art Walk

June 2: Hosted by Art Galleries of St. Augustine, Friday Friday Art Walk will be from 5-9 p.m. Friday, June 2 in 20+ St. Augustine art galleries! View new art exhibits and enjoy refreshments, cash bars at some galleries, and live entertainment. There are over 20 member galleries, each with its own style, located in and around the downtown area and over the Bridge of Lions on Anastasia Island and St. Augustine Beach. Many of the Galleries introduce their featured artist for the month and they are often on hand to answer questions about their work. First Friday Art Walk is FREE to attend and patrons can start at any participating gallery. Parking for First Friday Art Walk is free downtown at the City of St Augustine meters and parking lots after 5 PM, with additional parking available at the San Sebastian Winery and the City Parking Garage ($). Self-Driving to participating galleries with onsite parking is recommended. For easy mobility downtown, gallery patrons and visitors can enjoy the FREE shuttle service that runs from 6-9 p.m. (February-November) provided by Old Town Trolley Tours St. Augustine. To use this service, shuttle stickers may be picked up at any participating gallery. The shuttle may be boarded at any of the following stops; in front of Butterfield Garage and ArtBox, the Lightner Museum, as well as on Treasury Street in the Plaza. The latest map of all member galleries, with parking zones, can be downloaded from our website: https://www.staaa.org/art-galleries-of-st-augustine/

FREE VENDOR SIGN UP! Please sign up your child for this opportunity by emailing

weeventinc@gmail.com or call 386-682-0245

Greg White- West Augustine CRA Steering Committee

Mark Bailey- Bailey Insurance Group

Barry Broudy- Broudy’s Fine Wine and Spirits

Chris Shee – Mastercraft Builders Group

Tyronda Sanks- Spoil Her Because LLc

Clay Murphy – Sonny’s BBQ

Chef Chip Richard – Cap’s On The Water

Sarah Cheshire & Chris Cheshire – The Vibe Nutrition

The Courageous Women of Fort Mose

June 3: “The Courageous Women of Fort Mose” will take plat at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, June 3 at The Waterworks, 184 San Marco Ave., in uptown St. Augustine. This is a dramatic presentation of the challenges of the women who settled and lived in the community of Gracia Real de Santa Teresa de Mose. Join Fort Mose Historic State Park as we partner with the Fort Mose Historical Society to bring you back in time to the harrowing moments when a decision to seek freedom over chains occurred. Dr. Dorothy Israel, Ms. Twila Hudson, and Harold “Red Bear” Lock, along with the Courageous Women of Fort Mose, will tell the story of how the first leg of the Underground Railroad led to St. Augustine
through re-enactment in a theatrical setting. Hear from the Fort Mose women who experienced the
middle passage, the harrowing trip from slavery in the Carolinas to freedom in the Spanish Colony of La Florida, and the life challenges they experienced living on the northern edge of St. Augustine.
Dr. Israel, the Women of Fort Mose and Dr. Jane Mahoney will unveil and sign their new book, “The
Courageous Women of Mose: All for Freedom.” There will also be an exhibit/sale of local artists whose art reflects the Fort Mose Story and the Freedom Seekers experience. Featured exhibiting artists: Diane Thompson Cortese, Joe Desiderio, Lenny Foster, Lucy George, Claire Kendrick, Deb Lightfield, Mare Martelli, Ovico Gallery, Gayle Prevatt, Mary Ann Rosenthal, Alise Sheppard, Linda Sperruzzi, and Jasmine Turner. Admission is FREE.  

St. Augustine Singers — St. Augustine High School Alumni Chorus

June 5: The St. Augustine Singers, the St. Augustine High School Alumni Chorus, under the direction of Jeff Dodd, will perform at 7:30 p.m. June 5 at San Sebastian Catholic Church, 1112 State Road 16, in St. Augustine. The concert will benefit the upcoming Rome performance trip. Donations will be collected during the event. 

FREE Words & Music Series by EMMA Concert Association

June 8, July 6 and August 3: The Words and Music Series continues this summer at The Waterworks, 184 San Marco Ave., in uptown St. Augustine. EMMA Concerts Association hosts this free live music event, with support from the St. Johns County Tourism Development Council. The Waterworks is available through the generosity of the City of St. Augustine and the St. Johns Cultural Council.

Juneteenth Celebration at Lincolnville Museum 

June 15-18: The Lincolnville Museum and Cultural Center will host a series of concerts to celebration Juneteenth – The anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation. Enjoy four days of history, culture, food and fun in the nation’s oldest city and spend Juneteenth in the city of St. Augustine where emancipation began. Learn more and purchase tickets here www.lincolnvillemuseum.org/2023-juneteenth-celebration

Beautiful: The Carole King Musical 

June 16-17 and June 23-24: Apex Theatre Studio will present their 10th-annual summer theatre series with Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, the inspiring true story of Carole King’s journey from teenage songwriter to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Before she was hit-maker Carole King, she was Carole Klein, a spunky, young songwriter from Brooklyn with a unique voice. From the chart-topping hits she wrote for the biggest acts in music to her own life-changing, trailblazing success with her 1971 hit album Tapestry. Beautiful show times are 7:30 p.m. Friday, June 16; 2 & 7:30 p.m. Saturday, June 17; and 7:30 p.m. Friday & Saturday, June 23-24. Tickets are available at www.apextheatrejax.com/events

St. Augustine 2023 Pride Parade

June 17: Presented by House of Prism, join the Pride Parade in downtown St. Augustine! The parade begins at 9:45 a.m. at the City Gate. Participants are asked to meet at 9:30 a.m. The Parade heads south on St. George Street to the Plaza de la Constitucion for entertainment and guest speakers from 10 a.m.-noon. Learn more at www.facebook.com/houseofprism

St. Augustine Music Festival – Juneteenth Concerts

June 19: The St. Augustine Music Festival will host a Juneteenth concert in collaboration with Ritz Chamber Players at 7:30 p.m. June 19 in the Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine, 38 Cathedral Place, downtown St. Augustine. The concert will feature works by Samuel Coleridge Taylor, with featured artist Ann Marie McPhail. Admission is free. More details at staugustinemusicfestival.org

Beautiful: The Carole King Musical 

June 22-25: Apex Theatre Studio will present their 10th-annual summer theatre series with Disney’s Newsies Jr. at Lewis Auditorium at Flagler College. Disney’s Newsies Jr. is a shorter version of the 2012 Broadway musical, based on the 1992 film. Inspired by the rousing true story of newsboys in turn-of-the-century New York City, Newsies Jr. features a Tony Award-winning score by Alan Menken and Jack Feldman and a book by Tony Award winner Harvey Fierstein. When powerful newspaper publishers raise prices at the newsboys’ expense, the charismatic Jack Kelly rallies newsies from across the city to strike against the unfair conditions. Together, the newsies learn that they are stronger united and create a movement to fight for what’s right. With a running time of 70 minutes, it is a perfect night out for the whole family. A special kids’ matinee is planned for 11 a.m. Friday, June 23 with student tickets at a special rate of $15. Other show dates are 7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 22; and 2 p.m. Saturday & Sunday, June 24-25. Tickets are available at www.apextheatrejax.com/events 

St. Augustine Music Festival

June 23-25 & June 30-July 2: The 2023 St. Augustine Music Festival features free classical concerts beginning at 7:30 p.m. each night from June 23-25 and June 30-July 2 in the Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine, 38 Cathedral Place, downtown St. Augustine. Admission is free. More details at staugustinemusicfestival.org