St. Augustine History Fest, 2026

The 2026 St. Augustine History Festival

The St. Augustine History Festival celebrates the "Nation's Oldest City" with activities at historical sites throughout the town. Plan to attend lectures, reenactments, and special exhibitions during the History Festival, May 6 - 10, 2026.

Created by the University of Florida, Historic St. Augustine Inc., and the Lastinger Family Foundation, the festival showcases every era of St. Augustine's long and storied past through special events and tours of historic venues. Typically, the festival includes presentations, book signings, a reenactment, and tours of historic sites.

Go here to learn which historic sites, houses of worship, and gardens will be open for tours during the 2026 St. Augustine History Fest.

These events are listed in date-and-time order (as much as possible).

Most events are free; entry fees are listed for those who require one.

Wednesday, May 6, 2026

Butler Beach

What: St. Johns County Parks and Recreation guide, Megan Wright, leads a walk and discussion about the history of Butler Beach. Purchased by a Black man, Frank B. Butler, in 1927, when other beaches in St. Augustine were for "whites only," Butler Beach became one of St. Augustine's focal points of the 1964 struggle for civil rights. 

When: Wednesday, May 6, 2026, from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m.

Where: Butler Beach, 5860 A1A on Anastasia Island
Note: There is free parking on unpaved Gloria Avenue, before the pay station.

Fort Matanzas National Monument

What: A ranger-guided tour of Fort Matanzas. Take a free ferry ride from the mainland to the island. Pick up boarding passes at the Fort Matanzas Visitor Center when you arrive at the park. They are issued on a first-come, first-served basis. Make sure to line up for boarding five minutes before departure. 

When: Wednesday, May 6, 2026. The ferry leaves every hour, on the half hour, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Where: Fort Matanzas National Monument, 8635 A1A South
Note: Parking is limited; car-pooling is recommended.

Governor's House Cultural Center and Museum

What: Grand opening of a new exhibit: Florida at War—St. Augustine In the American Revolution. In honor of the 250th anniversary of the United States of America, The Governor's House presents an exhibit on British-led St. Augustine during the Revolution.

When: May 6, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The exhibit will remain up for several months.
Where: The Governor's House Cultural Center and Museum, 48 King Street, St. Augustine, 32084

St. Photios Greek Orthodox National Shrine

What: Enjoy an evening of discussion and refreshments with Archon Carl Hollister. Mr. Holllister is the Executive Director of St. Photios, and "Archon" is the Greek title for a leader. The first colony of Greek people arrived here in 1768. This site is dedicated to them. Explore exhibits showing the lives of the first Greeks in America and the development of the Greek Orthodox Church in America, and learn about these people and their lives and artifacts from Archon Hollister.

When: Wednesday, May 6, 2026, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.
Where: St. Photios Shrine, 41 St. George Street, St. Augustine, Florida, 32084

Thursday, May 7, 2026

Fort Matanzas National Monument

What: A ranger-guided tour of Fort Matanzas. Take a free ferry ride from the mainland to the island. Pick up boarding passes at the Fort Matanzas Visitor Center when you arrive at the park. They are issued on a first-come, first-served basis. Make sure to line up for boarding five minutes before departure. 

When: Wednesday, May 6, 2026. The ferry leaves every hour, on the half hour, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Where: Fort Matanzas National Monument, 8635 A1A South
Note: Parking is limited; carpooling is recommended.

Father Miguel O'Reilly House Museum

What: A bobbin lace demonstration by Sisters Kathleen and Josepha. Learn the importance of bobbin lace and how the sisters practiced and shared it.

When: Thursday, May 7, 2026, 10:00 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.
Where: Father Miguel O'Reilly House Museum, 32 Aviles Street, St. Augustine, Florida 32084

Ribera Yard on St. George Street

What: The UF Institute of Food and Agriculture Sciences and other organizations have teamed up to show how local families grew their own food in years past. The demonstrations and animals present include:

• Bees and beekeepers
• Horses
• Vegetables
• Poultry
• Small cows
• Rabbits

When: Thursday, May 7, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Where: Ribera Garden, 22 St. George Street, St. Augustine, Florida 32084

Governor's House Cultural Center and Museum

What: Experience a rare opportunity to watch and listen as archaeologists and volunteers sort and discuss articles discovered at the Fountain of Youth Park site. Archaeologists have found items from the early Timucuan Indian Village and artifacts from the original Spanish settlement in St. Augustine. The experts discuss the finds, show their methods, and discuss displays and books about Florida's Indigenous people and the early Spanish settlers.
Also: Make sure to view their new exhibit: Florida at War—St. Augustine In the American Revolution.

When: May 7, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. 
Where: The Governor's House Cultural Center and Museum, 48 King Street, St. Augustine, 32084

Flagler College

What: View the documentary, Preserving the Ponce, about the recent extensive renovations and reconstruction of certain parts of Ponce Hall.

When: Thursday, May 7, 2026, from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Where: Gamache Theatre at the Ringhaver Student Center, 50 Sevilla Street, St. Augustine, Florida 32084

Grounds of the Oldest House Museum

What: A presentation of the Herschel Shepard Award to Gordon "Gordie" Wilson, who retired after serving as the Superintendent of the Castillo de San Marcos and Fort Matanzas Monuments. Wilson served in the National Park Service for more than 45 years. While in St. Augustine, he created programs and established collaborations to safeguard and preserve these monuments.

When: Thursday, May 7, 2026, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Where: Oldest House Museum Complex, 14 St. Francis Street, St. Augustine, Florida 32084

National Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche

What: Two lectures about the Minorcans of St. Augustine, one presented by Archon Carl Hollister, Executive Director of St. Photios Shrine, and the other by Katy Lockard, Director of Archives and Records Management at Our Lady of La Leche. Archon Hollister begins with a discussion on the Greek Orthodox inhabitants of St. Augustine. Katy Lockard discusses the Golden Book of Minorcans, an heirloom she intends to present for viewing at the event. 

When: Thursday, May 7, 2026, from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m.
Where: The Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche, 101 San Marco Avenue, St. Augustine, Florida 32084

Friday, May 8, 2026

Father Miguel O'Reilly House Museum

What: Digitizing Archives, presented by Curator Korrine McGill. A discussion on finding the photos, digitizing, and working to preserve the history of the Sisters of St. Joseph in St. Augustine.

When: Friday, May 8, 2026, from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.
Where: Father Miguel O'Reilly House Museum, 32 Aviles Street, St. Augustine, Florida 32084

Grounds of the Oldest House Museum

What: Nicole Diehm presents on the topic: The Historical Drama of Governor Tonyn. Governor Patrick Tonyn was the British Governor of East Florida during the American Revolution. Tonyn successfully maintained British control of East Florida and applied pressure to pro-revolution colonies to the north. 

When: Friday, May 8, 2026, from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m.
Where: Oldest House Museum Complex, 14 St. Francis Street, St. Augustine, Florida 32084

Saturday, May 9, 2026

St. Francis Barracks: Florida National Guard Museum

What: Command Historian Alison Simpson conducts a guided tour of the St. Francis Barracks and grounds. She discussed the property's early history as a Franciscan headquarters, the property's use as an Army installation, and the history of Florida's Military.

When: Saturday, May 9, 20206, from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m.
Where: St. Francis Barracks, 82 Marine Street, St. Augustine, Florida 32084

St. Augustine Waterworks

What: Dr. Roger Smith, historian, shares information about the first colonial prisoners of war during the American Revolution. They were captured in Virginia and sent to St. Augustine. Find out why. Three signers of the Declaration of Independence spent the war in St. Augustine, as did 2,000 sailors and soldiers.

When: Saturday, May 9, 2026, from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m.
Where: The St. Augustine Waterworks Building, 184 San Marco, St. Augustine, Florida 32084

The Castillo de San Marcos

What: Visit the Castillo de San Marcos as they commemorate the 250th anniversary of the birth of the United States of America, by raising the British flag. After all, St. Augustine was a British colony and fought on the other side, and ended up under Spanish rule after the Revolutionary War. During the History Festival, on May 9, the Castillo is once again under British rule.

When: Saturday, May 9, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. 
Historic Weapons Demonstration: 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m, and 3:30 p.m.
Where: The Castillo de San Marcos, 11 S Castillo Drive, St. Augustine, Florida 32084
Entry Fee: $15.00 per person for those age 16 and over; free for children 15 and younger; free for those with the America the Beautiful Pass

Peña-Peck House

What: A Treasury of Voices: A Living History Experience, with special tours beginning at 10:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. Actors from Limelight Theatre are stationed in several rooms throughout the house, portraying the Spanish, British, and American former residents, and telling their stories. 
Plus: There will be a family scavenger hunt designed for children ages 3 to 11. 

When: Saturday, May 9, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to noon.
Where: Peña-Peck House, 143 St. George Street, St. Augustine, Florida 32084
Entry Fee: $22.00 for adults 17 and older, and $12.00 for children 16 and younger. Purchase tickets online in advance. 

Tolomato Cemetery Scavenger Hunt

What: Search for clues to solve the puzzle in this family-friendly scavenger hunt on the grounds of the Tolomato Cemetery. The history of this cemetery starts when St. Augustine was a Franciscan mission, and the cemetery was used through the British Period, Second Spanish Period, and through to Florida's early statehood. Learn more about this rich history during a lively scavenger hunt.

When: Saturday, May 9, 2026, take part anytime from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. 
Where: 14 Cordova Street, St. Augustine, Florida 32084

Best Richardson African Diaspora Literature & Culture Museum

What: Gullah Geechee & Beyond—An immersive day of celebration and education, focusing on the cultural heritage of the Gullah Geechee. Artisans, storytellers, and Ring Shouters share their knowledge, talents, crafts, and flavors. Visit, learn about the rich heritage of the Gullah Geechee, sample the cuisine, and listen to their stories.

• 

  Sweetgrass basket weaver

• Gullah dollmaker
• Lowcountry artist
• Shaker gourd maker
• Food, music, and storytelling
• The Gullah Geechee Ring Shouters perform between 3:00 and 4:00 p.m.

When: Saturday, May 9, from noon to 5:00 p.m.

Where: The BRADLC Museum, 83 Washington Street, St. Augustine, Florida 32084

Duel on Aviles Street at the Spanish Military Hospital Museum

What: Two men threaten to duel on the nation's oldest street in an event featuring intrigue, firearms, and colonial chivalry. Fortunately, they have their quarrel outside the Spanish Military Hospital. Stop by to see if the surgeon can save a life.

When: Saturday, May 9, 2026, from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m.

Where: Near 3 Aviles Street
Entry Fee: The event is free. If you want to visit the Spanish Military Hospital Museum, make reservations in advance on their website. $19.12 for adults, $8.47 for children aged 6 to 12, $16.99 for seniors and those in the military.

Fort Mose Historic State Park

What: A presentation by Dr. David Jamison on maroon communities and their historical perspective. "Maroon" was the term Europeans used to describe Africans who had escaped enslavement. Many were able to establish their own successful communities, as we learn at Fort Mose.

When: Saturday, May 9, 2026, from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.
Where: Fort Mose Historic State Park, 15 Fort Mose Trail, St. Augustine, Florida 32084

Ximenez-Fatio House Museum

What: Hannah Rose, of the Ximenez-Fatio House Museum, discusses the entrepreneurial ladies who lived and ran this home and boarding house. Several enterprising ladies ran the household in the 19th century; each was impacted by the customs and cultures of their era.

When: Saturday, May 9, 2026, from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.
Where: Ximenez-Fatio House Museum, 20 Aviles Street, St. Augustine, Florida 32084
Entry Fee: The event is free. If you would like to tour this significant historic property, tickets for adults are $15.00 for guided tours and $12.00 for audio tours. 

Drake's Raid Reenactment

What: Militia members representing Spanish and English troops camp at the Fountain of Youth on Friday and Saturday. On Saturday evening, they gather at the Governor's House and march to the Orange Street redoubt, where they reenact a battle to commemorate Drake's 1586 raid on St. Augustine.


When: Saturday, May 10, 2025, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.

Where: Troops gather at the Governor's House on the plaza and march to Orange Street. The battle takes place at the redoubt on Orange Street.

Sunday, May 10, 2026

The Castillo de San Marcos

What: Visit the Castillo de San Marcos as they commemorate the 250th anniversary of the birth of the United States of America, by raising the British flag. After all, St. Augustine was a British colony and fought on the other side, and ended up under Spanish rule after the Revolutionary War. During the History Festival, on May 9, the Castillo is once again under British rule.

When: Sunday, May 10, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. 
Historic Weapons Demonstration: 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m, and 3:30 p.m.
Where: The Castillo de San Marcos, 11 S Castillo Drive, St. Augustine, Florida 32084
Entry Fee: $15.00 per person for those age 16 and over; free for children 15 and younger; free for those with the America the Beautiful Pass

Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park

What: Dr. Roger Smith discusses his newest book, The Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park: Where Legend Meets History. How did this significant location become entwined in the mythology of the fountain of youth? Dr. Smith discusses this and some of the treasures found at the park.

When: Sunday, May 10, 2026, from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m.
Where: Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park, 11 Magnolia Avenue, St. Augustine, Florida 32084
Entry Fee: You must purchase a ticket to the Fountain of Youth: $22.95 for adults and teens, 20.95 for seniors, $9.95 for youth aged 6 to 12, and free for those younger than six. 

More Information

Houses of Worship, Cemeteries, and Gardens

For tours at churches and synagogues, cemeteries, and the city's historic gardens, go to this page.

Historically Significant Sites and Information

• Best-Richardson African Diaspora Literature and Culture Museum
• Castillo de San Marcos
• Colonial Quarter
• Father Miguel O'Reilly House Museum
• Fort Mose State Park and Museum
• Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park
• Governor's House Cultural Center and Museum
• Lincolnville Museum and Cultural Center
• Peña-Peck House
• Spanish Military Hospital
• St. Augustine Alligator Farm and Zoological Park
• St. Augustine Historical Society and Oldest House
• St. Augustine Lighthouse and Maritime Museum
• The Treasure Chest Museum
• UF/Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience
• Villa Zorayda
• Ximenez-Fatio House Museum and Historic Garden