Make some noise in July on Florida’s Historic Coast. Our summertime celebration features lots of music and a big BANG this on Fourth of July Weekend, and the sweet sounds, fresh flavors and fun in the sun continue throughout the summer.
The sweet sounds of summer are celebrated over the approaching holiday weekend at the St. Augustine Music Festival where inspiring, world-class music is presented in the welcoming environment of the Cathedral Basilica, and The Oak Fest at The Colonial Oak Music Park which features some of the region’s favorite contemporary performers.
On July 4, Fireworks Over the Matanzas returns with Concert in the Plaza followed by one of the largest displays of fireworks on the East Coast exploding above the majestic Castillo de San Marcos. On July 16, the St. Augustine Country Festival & St. Augustine Craft Beer Festival will feature live country music, country food, fine crafts & country fashion exhibits, lots of beer & wine tastings, and more at the events field. Then in early September, St. Augustine celebrates Founder’s Day with a full day of events including the reenactment of Pedro Menendez’ September 8, 1565 landing, followed by a full day of celebration at the Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park and the Mission Nombre de Dios.
It has never been more comfortable to eat, stay and play on Florida’s Historic Coast. Health travel protocols remain a priority and wide-open spaces abound. There are many ways to safely experience the summer events and experiences on Florida’s Historic Coast. There are also great deals on fun tours, delicious treats and great places to stay.
Here are a few fun experiences to enjoy on Florida’s Historic Coast this summer:
- Take a walk on St. Augustine or Ponte Vedra Beach and you’ll find history dating back to the ice age. Mickler’s Landing and the beaches at the GTM Reserve are popular access points for visitors and a secret place to find fossilized shark teeth. You may also find some shark tooth and other unique shell treasures along Vilano Beach.
- Music continues to be celebrated throughout the summer months on Florida’s Historic Coast The Augustine Amphitheatre will feature Blackberry Smoke along with The Steel Woods, Buddy Guy with John Hiatt and The Gonners, Iration and Atmosphere, Slightly Stoopid, Rick Springfield with Men at Work and few other greats on stage this summer. There are also many free concerts through the summer. Music by The Sea Concerts take place at St. Augustine Beach Pier Park every Wednesday Night in August & September, while every Thursday night through the summer the Colonial Oak Music Park features the area’s most popular country music performers and the Concerts in the Plaza continues to remain a St. Augustine summertime tradition.
- Experience Guana Lake’s amazing glow! Starlight and silence set the stage for the magically brilliant display of aquamarine and electric-blue bioluminescence created by billions of comb jellies and single-celled dinoflagellates in the water. Plan to participate in an exclusive nighttime paddling tour to see the phenomena with Geotrippin Adventure Company.
- Find your hot spot, cast a line to and try your luck at catching dinner. Whether on the banks, in the surf, inshore or offshore, there are several local guides that can take you to find just the right spots to target redfish, flounder, trout, whiting, pompano, and other species that are fun to catch and provide great table-fare. Take your catch to one of the great area restaurants that offer a line and dine experience.
- Take care of yourself! There are so many great options for taking better care of your body, mind and soul while vacationing on Florida’s Historic Coast. Wellness has always been on the top of the list here. Even Henry Flagler’s Alcazar Hotel offered luxury and fitness to visiting guests back in the 1880s. Today the collection of resort spas and day spas help the wellness traveler tap into the area’s history of luxury with a variety of services and wellness programs.
- How about taking a scenic trip across the bay while beating the traffic and learning more about St. Augustine’s natural environment and culture? The new Dolphin Bay Scenic Shuttle recently started carrying passengers between the Vilano Beach Public Pier and the St. Augustine Municipal Marina. Not only is it scenic and fun, but it is also the ideal transport for guests staying downtown to get to the beach without a car, or Vilano Beach lodging guests to get downtown without worrying about a place to park.
