Holy Week welcomes visitors and locals to celebrate the rich religious history of Florida’s Historic Coast with an array of sacred ceremonies and cultural festivities from Palm Sunday through Easter Sunday. All are invited to come together and celebrate the season of renewal in St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra and The Beaches.
A quick glance at the architecture of downtown St. Augustine reveals the importance religion held for the city’s European settlers, whose piety was given permanence through the historic houses of worship. During Holy Week, many churches offer services, vigils and events where visitors can embark on a spiritual exploration and perhaps even a transformation. From the towering Cathedral Basilica to the quaint garden-like Mission Nombre de Dios just one mile north, there’s no shortage of events to stir the spirit.
Mission Nombre de Dios
Mission Nombre de Dios is a historic and holy site where Pedro Menendez de Aviles and his party landed and proclaimed the site for Spain and the Catholic Church on Sept. 8, 1565. Reverently referred to as the nation’s most “sacred acre,” the mission is a holy place of pilgrimage, with visitors worldwide coming to visit the National Shrine of Our Lady de la Leche.
Holy Week Events at the Mission Nombre de Dios include:
Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine
The Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine is home to the nation’s first Catholic parish. The parish’s original place of worship, built in 1797, was destroyed by a fire in 1887. James Renwick Jr., architect of St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City, spearheaded the Cathedral Basilica’s reconstruction. His crew salvaged the original coquina blocks and cement masonry of the original building, embracing Spanish mission features and adding soaring timber beams. Henry Flagler contributed to the rebuilding efforts with a six-story bell tower that still rings throughout the city.
Holy Week events at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine include:
Behind the scenes tours of Cathedral Basilica are available at 1 p.m. Monday- Friday. Tickets are available online.
More Holy Week Services
Many churches of different denominations offer beautiful and stirring services.
Colonial Church hosts a Good Friday Service at The St. Augustine Amphitheatre, complete with food trucks and concessions, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Friday, March 29.
Sunrise Services
Easter sunrise services are offered on Crescent Beach by Crescent Beach Baptist Church and Vilano Beach by Turning Point at Calvary Baptist Church, beginning at 7 a.m.
Other Easter Week Celebrations
The 65th Annual Easter Parade is a St. Augustine tradition that features the Royal Family, Storm Troopers, Easter Bunny, pirates, carriage horses and an array of community floats. It begins at 9 a.m. March 30, starting at the Old Jail, traveling along San Marcos Avenue to Avenida Menendez and ending in the Plaza de la Constitución at 10:30 a.m.
Each year, friends and families gather for the Easter Promenade on Easter Sunday afternoon. The Royal Family heads the promenade, with participants strolling through the Plaza de la Constitución, showing off their finest Sunday wear. Awards are presented in many fun categories, including one for the most creative Easter bonnet. The Easter Promenade is on March 31 in the Plaza de la Constitución, from 1 to 2:30 p.m.
Easter egg hunts are also a big part of the holiday fun. Here are a few:
Palencia Park Easter Egg Hunt: 10 a.m. to noon. March 28. Free Admission. 405 Palencia Village Drive, St. Augustine. 904-209-0332
Veterans Park Easter Egg Hunt: 10 a.m. to noon March 28. Free admission. 1332 Veterans Parkway in St. Johns. 904-209-0332
Al Wilke Park & Community Center Easter Egg Hunt: 10 a.m. to noon March 30. Free admission. 6150 South Main St., Hastings. 904-209-0332
Treaty Park Easter Egg Hunt: 10 a.m. to noon March 30. Free admission. 1595 Wildwood Drive, St. Augustine. 904-209-0332
