The Diocese of St. Augustine and the City of St. Augustine are commemorating the 459th Founder's Day anniversary on Sept. 7. This event will be brimming with historical re-enactments and vibrant festivities. Events will also commemorate the 100th anniversary of the sister-city relationship with Avilés, Spain.
Founder's Day commemorates Sept. 8, 1565, when a small band of Spaniards celebrated a Mass of Thanksgiving on the shores of Northeast Florida, marking the beginning of a new settlement. This planted the seeds of Christianity in America north of Mexico and laid the foundation for a rich legacy of faith and social support in St. Augustine.
The Founder's Day celebration on Sept. 7 will begin at 10 a.m. at the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche, located within the sacred grounds of Mission Nombre de Dios, 101 San Marco Ave., St. Augustine. This event promises an engaging and unforgettable experience for the whole family. Visitors will have a chance to witness a historical re-enactment presented by the Historic Florida Militia: Men of Menéndez, vividly bringing to life the 1565 historic landing of Don Pedro Menéndez de Avíles and the subsequent establishment of St. Augustine.
Following the re-enactment, Bishop Erik Pohlmeier will celebrate a Mass of Thanksgiving at the Rustic Altar in its natural outdoor surroundings.
The event will be graced by the presence of the Royal Family of St. Augustine, representatives of the Menorcan community and visiting governmental leaders, adding to its significance. The celebration is open to the public and free of charge. Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, sunscreen and water bottles to enjoy the day's activities.
The festivities will continue with afternoon events at the Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park, located near the mission at 11 Magnolia Ave.
“Pedro Menéndez” and his entourage will march to the Fountain of Youth for the ceremonial first Thanksgiving meal re-enactment at 1 p.m. Encampment, and living history demonstrations at the Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park will be available until 5 p.m. Note that nominal admission fees may apply to enter this part of the celebration.
This year's Founder's Day is particularly significant for St. Augustine as it marks the 100th anniversary of the city's relationship with Menéndez's ancestral home of Avilés, Spain.
As part of this year's festivities, a delegation from St. Augustine, led by Mayor Nancy Sikes-Kline and Father John Tetlow, rector of the Cathedral Basilica, will visit Spain in August to participate in various activities, including a re-enactment, a wreath-laying ceremony and a visit to the Church of San Antonio de Padua, where Menéndez is buried.
Similarly, a delegation from Avilés will visit St. Augustine in September to participate in the annual Founder's Day events, further strengthening the bond between the two cities.
For more information about Founder's Day, go to dosafl.com/2024/08/07/st-augustine-celebrates-100-year-spanish-legacy.
Sister City Events
In collaboration with St. Augustine Sister Cities Association, St. Johns Cultural Council, Flagler College, the businesses on Avilés Street, and the Diocese of St. Augustine, the City of St. Augustine is hosting a delegation from Avilés, Spain, from Thursday, Sept. 5, through Monday, Sept. 9, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of their sister-city relationship.
The Cultural Council and St. Augustine Sister Cities Association Inc., in collaboration with Flagler College, will present a free public concert by Asturian folk band Tejedor at Lewis Auditorium at 7 p.m. Sept. 5. Reservations may be made at eventbrite.com/e/953374758567?aff=oddtdtcreator.
Mayor Nancy Sikes-Kline will officially welcome the delegation from Avilés at a 10 a.m. wreath-laying ceremony on Sept. 6 in front of City Hall.
The City of St. Augustine City Commission and the Avilés delegation will attend the Founder’s Day Commemoration festivities at 10 a.m. Sept. 7 at the Mission Nombre de Dios, followed the First Thanksgiving reenactment at the Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park.
In conjunction with the Sing Out Loud Festival, the Colonial Oak Music Park, 21 St. George St., will host a free public concert by Tejedor at 8 p.m. Sept. 7.
The public is invited to attend the unveiling of a 100th anniversary interpretive marker and rededication of a tile mosaic that was gifted to the city in 2002. This ceremony will take place at 10 a.m. Sept. 8 on Avilés Street, prior to the opening of the Avilés Street Festival at noon.
The festival is being presented by the St. Johns Cultural Council and the merchants and museums of Avilés Street, the oldest platted street in the United States. The street will be closed to vehicular traffic for the duration of the event taking place from noon 9 p.m. This free street festival celebrating Hispanic culture will offer music, dance, food and art; and it will feature a plein air painting event co-hosted by the St. Augustine Art Association.
As part of the cultural exchange of the 100th anniversary, the Cultural Council is sponsoring local plein air artist Martha Ferguson to travel to Avilés in August to represent the City of St. Augustine. In return, Avilés artist Samuel Fernández Arma, will be in St. Augustine to participate in this live plein air event, and the public will have an opportunity to meet both artists.
Tejedor will perform their final free public concert in the Plaza de la Constitución, 1 Cathedral St., at 2 p.m. Sept. 8. The public is invited to bring blankets and chairs to the Plaza and enjoy the afternoon concert under the canopy of oak trees.
At 5 p.m. Sept. 9, during the regular City Commission meeting, the mayor and commissioners will present the Avilés delegation with a certificate of recognition for their participation in the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the sister-city relationship.
— Source: citystaug.com
