Weekend Cannon Firing

Visitors are welcome to the Castillo de San Marcos, (the fort in downtown St. Augustine), to experience a little piece of history. On most Saturdays and Sundays, re-enactors in period dress and living historians perform weapons demonstrations at the Castillo including cannon firings.

Visitors can see what it was like for the Spanish colonial settlers who used to live there. Under times of siege or other emergencies all people in the settlement were ordered inside the fort for protection and the cannons were aimed and fired if needed.

Park rangers and living historians will also give visitors a detailed history of the fort and its previous residents. Many soldiers from both the British and the Spanish left behind etchings in the Castillo's coquina walls; small marks and drawings that keep history alive and well!

Admission: Admission to the Castillo is $15.00 per adult, while children 15 and under are free. Tickets are valid for seven consecutive days. The Golden Access and Age Passports, the Castillo Annual Pass, and the Interagency Access, Annual, Military, and Senior Passes are honored for free admission in accordance with the terms specified on the card.

The cannon firing can be seen from outside the Castillo, though without the accompanying commentary and history.

When: Cannons are fired from the gundeck on most Saturdays and Sundays throughout the year, weather and staffing permitting, at 10:30 and 11:30 a.m., and at 1:30, 2:30, and 3:30 p.m. The fort is closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Where: Castillo de San Marcos located directly on the bayfront at 1 South Castillo Dr. St. Augustine, FL.

Parking is available in the parking lot located in front of the Castillo. The cost is $1.50 per hour which is paid at automated stations which accept most denominations of U.S. coin and currency as well as credit and debit cards. There is also parking available along the street and in the large parking garage located about a block away from the fort. Call (904) 829-6506 for more information.