2025 Festivals & annual events in St. Augustine & St. Johns County

Saint Augustine Film Festival

January 9-12: 40 films are on screen during the 15th annual Saint Augustine Film Festival at three venues in downtown St. Augustine in walking distance — Lewis Auditorium and Koger-Gamache Theatre at Flagler College and Alcazar Room at City Hall/Lightner Museum. See the film list and get tickets at staugfilmfest.com

Jimmy Jam BBQ Slam & Car Show

January 11: The biggest BBQ competition in northeast Florida, Jimmy Jam BBQ Slam takes place on Saturday, January 11 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the St. Johns County Fairgrounds, 584o State Road 207, in Elkton, Florida. The event features the KCBS BBQ Competition, a Car Show, Cornhole Competition, BBQ Tastings, the Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show, Live Music (all day), 50+ Local Vendors, Ninja Nation Obstacle Course, Kids Zone, Food Trucks, Cold Beer and Drinks, Raffle and a Chili Cook-off. Cost is $20 per guest, and free for children 10 and younger. Tickets and details at www.jimmyjambbqslam.com

St. Augustine Beach Pier Art & Craft Festival at the St. Augustine Beach Pier Park

February 15-16 and March 8-9: Artists and fine craftsmen will converge at the St. Johns County Ocean Pier Park Pavilion in St. Augustine Beach. The show will feature showcase nearly 100 juried artisans and master craftsmen who will be exhibiting their carefully created jewelry, pottery, paintings, fiber art, glass art, stained glass, photography, wood and much, much more. Admission is free. Show hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday. 350 A1A Beach Blvd., St. Augustine Beach. www.tnteventsinc.com

Tips for Kids Sake

February 4 and March 4: Tips for Kids Sake is a St. Augustine tradition, 29 years strong! Make plans to attend Big Brothers Big Sisters of St. Johns County’s Tips for Kids Sake on Tuesday, February 4 from 5 to 8 p.m. and let local celebrities serve you dinner. Make your reservation at 904-829-9986 or donate today at www.bbbsstjohns.org/tips-for-kids-sake.html

Local “Celebrity Waiters” are tasked with recruiting their family, friends, and colleagues to come and sit in their section during “Tips for Kids Sake.” All tips are donated to Big Brothers Big Sisters of St. Johns County for their mentoring program. BBBS of SJC’s mission is to create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth. EPIC Behavioral Healthcare is proud to be the sponsoring agency of BBBS of SJC.

Soup Showdown for Pie in the Sky St. Johns – Feeding Seniors

February 6: The Soup Showdown 2025 Fundraiser is a fundraiser for Pie in the Sky St. Johns, a nonprofit organizations that delivers food to local senior citizens in our community each week. The Soup Showdown runs from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday, February 6 at the Pie Warehouse, 134 Riberia Street, in downtown St. Augustine. Live music by Sea Level. Coast is $30 per guest and includes community chefs serving up bowls of their best soups and guests will vote for their favorites. $1 per vote, beverages available by donation. If you are interested in creating soup for the event, please email soupshowdown2025@gmail.com

Learn more about this incredible organization at pieintheskystjohns.org

Discover Fort Mose Jazz & Blues Series

February 6-16: The Discover Fort Mose Jazz and Blues Series features concerts by national recording artist at Fort Mose Historic State Park, an historic site established in 1738 as the first legally sanctioned free African settlement in what is now the United States. Tickets & details: discoverfortmose.com

THE LINEUP

• Feb. 6: Snarky Puppy
• Feb. 8: Tower of Power
• Feb. 14: Dinner Party featuring Terrace Martin, Robert Glasper, and Kamasi Washington
• Feb. 15: Macy Gray
• Feb. 16: The Dirty Dozen Brass Band with special guest Sierra Green and The Giants

Lighthouse 5K & Fun Run on Anastasia Island

February 15: Registration is open for the Lighthouse 5K & Fun Run on February 15. Hosted by The Junior Service League of St. Augustine, the group of volunteers who saved the Keepers’ House! Register here: jslofstaugustine.org

The inaugural race in 1983 was originally titled the “Bud Light Twilight Lighthouse Run.” The Lighthouse 5K is a chipped race that serves as a qualifier for the famed Gate River Run. The Fun Run is a true treat for the little runners!

Flight to Freedom at Fort Mose Historic State Park

February 20-22: Visitors take guided tours on the Flight to Freedom Trails guided by re-enactors at Fort Mose Historic State Park, 15 Fort Mose Trail, St. Augustine, FL. An immersive telling of the story of the people that affected the freedom seeker’s precarious journey from enslavement on the Carolina plantations to freedom in Spanish Florida. Free admission and free parking. Learn more at fortmose.org

Flight to Freedom at Fort Mose

February 20-22: Flight to Freedom at Fort Mose Historic State Park from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. February 20-22, with tours starting every 15 minutes. As you step onto the wooded Freedom Trail, you enter the year 1738. You’re drawn into a dangerous world where men, women and children flee from enslavement on British plantations, and toward the free Black community of Fort Mose. Share the Freedom Seekers’ hopes, fears and sacrifices. Experience their perilous journey of over 300 miles through unknown swamps, forests and waterways—traveling by night to avoid capture. Witness formation of the original Underground Railroad, forged through alliance with members of the Yamassee tribe. And feel the power of place as you enter Spanish Florida and Fort Mose, a vibrant and culturally diverse community seated on Spanish St. Augustine’s northern border. Free admission and free shuttles. Learn more here: https://fortmose.org/flight-to-freedom/

9:00-11:00 am – Tours every 15 minutes
11:00 am -Noon – African Drumming
Noon -3:00 pm – Tours every 15 minutes
4:00 pm – Last shuttle back to the parking lot

St. Augustine Spanish Wine & Food Festival

February 20-22: Experience a weekend of events featuring Spanish wine and food at Flagler College. This tasty event connects St. Augustine to the city’s Spanish heritage through a series of special events that feature Spanish wine, cuisine and culture. The event benefits the Tourism & Hospitality program at the college, helping students to learn about event production. To purchase tickets, visit www.spanishwinefestival.com

40th Annual Cathedral Festival on the Mission Grounds

February 21-23: The 40th Annual Cathedral Festival will take place Friday, February 21 from 5-10:30 p.m., Saturday, February 22 from noon-10:30 p.m., and Sunday, February 23 from noon-9 p.m. Ride, games, raffles, food, live music, fireworks and more. $5 for adults, $3 for kids ages 11-17 and seniors over 65, and free for active-duty military and kids 10 and under. Located at Mission Nombre de Dios. 21 Ocean Ave., St. Augustine. This is a fundraiser for Cathedral Parish School. www.thecathedralfestival.com

Ancient City Cat Show at Solomon Calhoun Center

February 22-23: The 9th Annual Cat Show resembles a beauty pageant, with feline contestants evaluated against Breed Standards. Expect over 150 cats and kittens to undergo six rounds of judging daily. Alongside the event, you’ll find cat vendors, the local animal rescue group Feline Canopy of Care featuring adoptable felines, and a daily food truck offering breakfast and lunch. Tickets for this yearly All Breed Cat and Household Pets Cat Tickets: $5 for General Admission and $3 for seniors, college students, and youth. Hours are 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. each day at the Solomon Calhoun Community Center, 1300 Duval St., in St. Augustine, Florida.

Lullaby of the Rivers Music Festival at The Amp

February 23: The Lullaby of the Rivers Festival offers live music on three stages at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, February 23 — the Front Porch Stage, the Rivers Stage and the Springs Stage. Gifted artists drawn from the treasure trove of talent right here in our local community, prominent performers from the region, and emerging young artists too will provide music and stories throughout the day. Admission is free. Learn more at www.lullabyoftherivers.com

Kidz Entrepreneur Night Market & Talent Show

February 23: The Kidz Entrepreneur Night Market & Talent show will be from 4-9 p.m. Sunday, February 23 at the Classic Car Museum of St. Augustine, 4730 Dixie Hwy, from U.S. 1 South, in St. Augustine, Florida

Register for free: Send an email to weeventinc@gmail.com and tell us if your youth will be a market vendor and/or will be part of the talent show — tell us what talent they will present.

This will be one of the area’s largest indoor markets. Admission is FREE.

The event features 45+ youth vendors ages 4 to 17 offering handmade gift items — perfect for spring shopping!

🌟FAMILY FUN ACTIVITIES

🐇Pictures with the Easter Bunny
👩🏻‍🍳Cooking Demo by a local chef
🩰 Performances by St. Augustine Ballet
🐣 Face Painting
👧🏽 Bounce House
🥘 The Saucey Pig Food Truck
🏎️ Classic Car Museum (entrance fee to tour the museum)

Menorcan Heritage Celebration

March 1: The Menorcan Heritage Celebration will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 1 on the grounds of the historic Llambias House, 31 St. Francis Street, in historic St. Augustine, Florida. Admission is free. The event is hosted by the Menorcan Cultural Society.A National Historic Landmark, the Llambias House is one of the few buildings in St. Augustine, Florida that dates back to the first Spanish colonial period (1565-1763). Learn more at www.menorcansociety.net

Chocolate & Beyond fundraiser for Teacher’s Aid for Students Knowledge

March 1: The annual Chocolate & Beyond event will be from 2-4 p.m. Saturday, March 1 at the Classic Car Museum of St. Augustine, 4730 Dixie Hwy, from U.S. South, in St. Augustine, Florida. The event is a fundraiser for TASK – Teacher’s Aid for Students, a nonprofit organization that provides grants and financial support for the St. Johns County School District. The event features chocolate-themed food, music, a 50/50 raffle, silent auction, culinary artisan awards and admission to the car museum. Tickets are $30 for adults and $10 for children 12 and younger. Email cb2025@taskstaug.org

The Florida Man Games at St. Johns County Fairgrounds

March 1: It’s back! The 2nd annual The Florida Man Games on Saturday, March 1 at the St. Johns County Fairgrounds in Elkton, Florida! Hosted by Wicks (@omgitswicks) and co-host Kevin Flynn (@floridaman), this is the “the weirded live athletic competition you’ve ever experienced!” TICKETS & DETAILS: www.thefloridamangames.com

GAMES:

• Evading Arrest Obstacle Course
• Weaponized Pool Noodle Mud Duel
• Eat the Butt Challenge – Competitors must finish their pork butt platter in the fastest time to place highest in the initial bracket.
• Florida Sumo Cage Match & Beer Pitcher Chug
• Hurricane Party Prep: Grocery Aisle Brawl
• Human Beer Pong

St. Augustine St. Patrick’s Parade

March 8: Celebrating the anniversary of The First St. Patrick Day celebration in America (1600) and the first recorded St. Patrick Parade in the WORLD, right here in 1601! And the ONLY St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Northeast Florida! The parade begins at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 8 at Francis Field, then heads East on Orange Street, turns South on Avenida Menendez and winds south along the bayfront, and then turns West on Cathedral Place, and back North on Cordova Street to finish at the Historic Downtown Parking Facility. www.celticstaugustine.com/parade

St. Augustine Celtic Music & Heritage Festival at Francis Field

March 8-9: Did you know St. Augustine is America’s oldest Celtic city? The ancient city hosted the original St. Patrick Parade in 1601 and has hosted the multi-award winning St. Augustine Celtic Music & Heritage Festival since 2011. If you’ve never been, now is the time to experience this great weekend event featuring top international and U.S. Celtic bands, highland games, parade, whiskey tasting, workshops, lectures, Celtic food and artisan crafts, Kid’s Zone and much more! TICKETS: www.celticstaugustine.com

HOURS

• Sat, March 8 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• Sunday, March 8 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

EPIC Flower & Garden Expo

March 15-16: The 27th Annual Flower & Garden Expo hosted by EPIC Behavioral Services will take place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 15, and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 16 at Sykes Family Farm, 5995 Brough Road, in Elkton, Florida. A popular event in NE Florida, the Flower and Garden Expo will delight gardeners of all ages with growers, nurseries, and artisans from around the state, offering shoppers every item to make your garden all it can be! Every year, this show features a variety of vendors bringing a wide array of horticulture, including olive trees, aquatic plants, herbs, ferns, succulents, citrus, colorful flowering plants, butterfly plants, native plants, and more, plus gardening accessories and art. A $5 admission fee per person is valid for both days of the Expo (children are admitted for free). Save your Expo ticket for FREE admission to Taste of St. Augustine on April 27 at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre.

St. Augustine Lions Seafood Festival

March 29-30: The 42nd annual St. Augustine Lions Seafood Festival returns to Francis Field with seafood delicacies and all kinds of cuisine and county fair foods, live entertainment for the whole family, kids rides and 100 craft artisans. Enjoy two days of great food and fun including a live music lineup featuring regional and local favorites. As always, the festival will serve up traditional fish and shrimp, lobster rolls and Cajun specialties but this year, there’s way more food selections to please all palates. Festival hours are Saturday, March 29 from 10 a.m.-9 p.m., and Sunday, March 30 from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. The Arts & Crafts village closes at sundown. No pets allowed except service animals. A downtown shuttle will run from free parking areas. More details at lionsfestival.com

St. Ambrose Fair

March 30: The 142nd annual St. Ambrose Fair will be held from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, March 30, 2024 at St. Ambrose Catholic Church and grounds, 6070 Church Road, in Elkton, from State Road 207. This is St. Johns County’s oldest fair! (St. Ambrose Catholic Church celebrates 150 years in February 2025.) The most popular item at the fair is the Minorcan clam chowder, prepared by Mary Ellen Masters and her chowder crew, which features the famous Datil pepper and a recipe that has been passed down from generation to generation. The crew makes 190 gallons and it all sells out every time! Other menu items include pulled pork dinners, French fries, hot dogs and hamburgers, cheeseburgers, boiled peanuts, homemade desserts, ice cream, soda, water, and beer. An ATM will be on site. Church tours, children’s games, hay rides, 50/50 raffle, silent auction, and live music by Money for Nothing. Admission is FREE.

Gamble Rogers Folk Festival

April 11-12: A heritage music event in St. Johns County, the Gamble Roger Folk Festival honors folk music icon Gamble Rogers, a musician who had national fame in the 1970s and 1980s, traveling the county and performing at folk festivals along with TV appearances. The annual event takes place April 11-12 at the St. Johns County Fairgrounds in Elkton, Florida — with four stages, 40+ performances, food trucks, workshops, vendors and other activities. Rogers was not only a pivotal figure in American folk music, guitarist extraordinaire, humorist, and storyteller but also a local legend and hero, beloved by all who knew him. Rogers was revered by an entire generation of musicians, including the late Jimmy Buffet, who dedicated his album ‘Fruitcakes’ to the songwriter. His status as a local figure was memorialized after his tragic passing on October 10, 1991 when he drowned attempting to save a swimmer in distress off Flagler Beach. The stretch of shoreline was later renamed in his honor. Gamble Rogers received a Florida Folk Heritage Award posthumously in 1993 and was later inducted into the Florida Artists Hall of Fame in 1998. Tickets and details at gamblerogersfest.org

Old Town Art Show at Francis Field

April 12-13: Artists and fine craftsmen from the Northeast Florida and around the country will once again converge at the Old Town Art Show at Francis Field in St. Augustine. The show will feature showcase nearly 100 juried artisans and master craftsmen who will be exhibiting their carefully created jewelry, pottery, paintings, fiber art, glass art, sculpture, photography, wood and much, much more. Admission is free. Show hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m. each day. Francis Field is located next to the parking garage, 25 Castillo Drive, downtown St. Augustine. Details at www.OldTownArtShow.com

St. Augustine Easter Parade

April 19: The St. Augustine Easter Parade kicks off at 9 AM at the Old Jail at 167 San Marco Avenue in St. Augustine, Florida and follows the route south on San Marco Avenue to Avenida Menendez to Cathedral Place and ending on Cordova Street. This Easter tradition started in 1958 and featured horses wearing Easter bonnets and hats decorated by well-known women throughout the state of Florida. Floats, marching bands, community groups and other organizations will be part of the parade. Learn more at www.oldestcityeaster.org

St. Augustine Easter Promenade

April 20: The Annual Easter Promenade celebrates the Easter holiday, St. Augustine history and the local community. This event is sponsored by the Easter Festival Committee and is held from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Sunday, April 20 at the gazebo in the Plaza de la Constitución. The promenade is a spectacle of outrageous Easter bonnets and festive Easter costumes. Awards are presented in various categories, including Most Creative Hat, Best Dressed Pet, Prettiest Hat, Best Dressed Couple, Best Dressed Man and Woman, Best Dressed Boy and Girl, Largest Family and Family from Farthest Away. Prizes from local businesses will be handed out at the end of the judging. Anyone is welcome to participate in the contests. Admission is FREE.

Cabbage, Potato and Bacon Festival in Hastings, Florida

April 26-27: Immerse yourself in a weekend of agricultural celebration right in the heart of downtown Hastings, Florida This historic festival revives the essence of Hastings and its neighboring communities. Enjoy the finest Farm to Table culinary demonstrations and an exclusive Chef Tasting event. Reminisce with beloved local traditions like the Great Hastings Mow Down Lawn Mower races, the scenic Spud Run 5K & 10K, the Miss Potato Queen Beauty Pageant. And it wouldn’t be a festival without an outdoor artisans’ market, live music and a kids zone This free event takes place on Saturday from 10 a.m.-3 p.m., with a special ticketed “Taste of Hastings” event from 5:30- 9 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. 301 N. Main St., Hastings. www.hastingsfl.org

The Taste of St. Augustine

April 27: This signature food festival takes place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, April 27 at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre — serving up tastes from St. Augustine’s famous restaurants. The area’s best restaurants will offer samples of their signature dishes. Restaurants will compete for the prestigious TOStA (Taste of St. Augustine) awards, with categories including Best Family Dining, Best Ethnic, Best Upscale and Best Dessert, as well as the ever-popular People’s Choice. Everyone gets to vote. There will be children’s area with fun activities including crafts and face-painting as well as live music throughout the day. Admission is $5. Taste tickets are $1 each, with restaurants charging between 1-5 tickets per taste. The Amphitheatre is located at 1340 A1A S., St. Augustine. The event benefits EPIC Behavioral Healthcare.

St. Augustine Craft Brewers’ Fest

May 3: Tickets go on sale March 1. Visit the Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park from 1-5 p.m. (general admission tickets) to enjoy unlimited samples from over 25 regional and local breweries, live music and food trucks! Proceeds go to EPIC Behavioral Healthcare, Safe Pet Rescue, St. Johns County Marine Science Program and the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum. General admission tickets are $50 in advance and VIP tickets are $120 and include access to the climate-controlled pavilion, private restrooms, a catered menu from Meehan’s, a festival tasting glass, and full festival access an hour early. 11 Magnolia Ave., St. Augustine. Tickets and details: www.stabrewersfest.com

St. Augustine History Festival

May 7-11: The St. Augustine History Festival was created and conceived the University of Florida Historic St. Augustine, Inc. and the Lastinger Family Foundation to showcase the history of America’s oldest city. The goal is to showcase every era of St. Augustine’s long and storied past, from the founding in 1565 to the most advanced technology available in 2025. American history began here, and no one tells our story better than we do – come out and enjoy our city! Tour 25+ historic properties, attend events and lectures, visits churches, gardens and cemeteries in St. Augustine, Florida. Learn more at staugustinehistoryfestival.com