Collaboration centers on Celebrate 450!’s three-day street and musical festival in downtown
From the City of St. Augustine
The City of St. Augustine today announced that the St. Johns County Cultural Events Division, a 450th Commemoration Alliance Partner and operator of the St. Augustine Amphitheatre and the Ponte Vedra Concert Hall, will secure entertainment and provide logistical support for the street and musical festival portion of Celebrate 450!
Celebrate 450! is a free, five-day celebration of the 450th anniversary of the founding of St. Augustine produced by the City of St. Augustine and the culminating event of St. Augustine’s 450th Commemoration, a series of programs, festivals and exhibitions which, over the past four years and under the direction of Dana Ste. Claire, has shared with the nation and the world the important role St. Augustine played in the making of America since its founding on September 8, 1565.
Celebrate 450! is scheduled for Friday through Tuesday, September 4-8, and includes a number of programs throughout the city including reenactments, processions, a commemorative Mass, and cutting and serving of the anniversary birthday cake. The five-day event kicks off with three days of music on multiple stages scattered through the city’s downtown historic district. It is this portion of Celebrate 450! where the Cultural Events Division’s assistance is centered.
“This collaboration will take advantage of the Cultural Events Division’s extensive experience that has proven time and time again it knows Northeast Florida’s entertainment taste,†said John Regan, St. Augustine City Manager.
“Anyone who has been to a show at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre is familiar with the level of professionalism its team exhibits at every event and the understanding of every facet of entertainment management.â€
The City and the Cultural Events Division also worked together during the Gentlemen of the Road Stopover event in September 2013 which featured Mumford and Sons. Loran Lueders, St. Augustine Police Chief and the Project Manager for Celebrate 450! noted the importance of the past cooperation between the city and the Cultural Events Division.
“One lasting result of the Mumford and Sons concert in September 2013, is the strong working relationship between the city and the Cultural Events Division,†said Lueders.
“We are completely confident that General Manager Ryan Murphy and his team will bring both their subject matter expertise to the event as well as their strong commitment to their community.â€
“Everyone in the Cultural Events Division is excited about bringing our skills and know-how to help set the stage for a great community event,†said Murphy.
“Since planning for the 450th began, we have wanted to participate in a big way, and now we have the opportunity to do what we know best. We are very excited about providing the same level of service and showmanship to Celebrate 450! we deliver at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre and the Ponte Vedra Concert Hall.â€
Celebrate 450!’s street and music festival will feature national, regional, local and cultural entertainment on multiple stages from Aviles St. north to the City Gate on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, September 4, 5 and 6. Additionally, Saturday’s entertainment schedule concludes with a fireworks display over Matanzas Bay.
Most stages will be located in a pedestrian-only area bounded by Orange Street, Cordova Street, Cathedral Place, and Avenida Menendez.
The main stage will be located at Ponce Circle, just east of the Plaza de la Constitución and will feature a large audience area where alcohol purchases and consumption will be permitted. Other venues include Avilés St., Hypolita St., the Colonial Quarter and the Plaza’s Gazebo. All of the entertainment portions of Celebrate 450! are FREE.
For more information about Celebrate 450!, visit www.StAugustine-450.com/Celebrate450.
FESTIVAL HOURS
Celebrate 450!’s downtown’s street and music festival hours are:
- Friday, September 4: 3 to 10 p.m.
- Saturday, September 5: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
- Sunday, September 6: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The pedestrian-only area will be in place each night from 6 p.m. until approximately 11 p.m. based on safety assessment by the St. Augustine Police Department.
Friday, Sept. 4, 2015 from 3 to 10 p.m.
Music & Street Festival*
The festival includes music and historical and cultural performances on multiple downtown stages, including a main stage on the bayfront.
Saturday, Sept. 5, 2015 from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Music & Street Festival*
The festival continues with music and historical and cultural performances on multiple downtown stages, including a main stage on the bayfront.
Fireworks Show*
This will be a spectacular fireworks show over the Matanzas River.
Sunday, Sept. 6, 2015 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Music & Street Festival*
The festival continues with regional and local music and historical and cultural performances on multiple downtown stages.
EMMA Concert Association presents a Spanish Music and Dance Performance
This performance at The St. Augustine Amphitheatre provides an evening of entertainment that showcases St. Augustine’s Spanish heritage.
- 3 p.m. – Gates open
- 4 to 5:30 p.m. – Local performing arts organizations will produce the first performance (St. Augustine Orchestra, St. Augustine Community Chorus, First Coast Opera & Limelight Theatre). This performance will be free to the public and produced by Artistic Director Gary Cadwallader.*
- 5:30 to 7 p.m. – On the grounds, The St. Augustine Textile Guild, Heritage (re-enactors) organizations, and representatives from the Castillo and St. George Street Players. The Art Association will provide hands-on activities and demonstrations geared toward family involvement.*
- 7:30 p.m. – Evening Concert: Ensemble Espanol – The ensemble will perform all styles of Spanish dance – Flamenco, Classical Spanish Dance “Estilizatión, Folklore, 18th Century Dances, Ballet (Classical Dance) and Castanets.
Monday, Sept. 7, 2015
Cake Cutting & Proclamation Reading*
A cake cutting, local music and reading of a proclamation will take place on this day in the Gazebo in the Plaza de la Constitución.
Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2015
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.
7:45 a.m. – Countdown clock ceremony at the Visitor Information Center
9 a.m. – Menéndez landing re-enactment at the Mission Nombre de Dios
10 a.m. – Procession to the Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine
11 a.m. – Commemorative Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine
