Uptown Saturday Night in St. Augustine, Florida

When most folks think of Florida, they envision sandy beaches, Disneyworld, and the urban sprawl of 20th Century development. What most folks forget is that St. Augustine , Florida is our nation's oldest city. The architecture rivals that of Boston, Philadelphia and Williamsburg. While there are plenty of sandy beaches (even some sprawl) in St. Augustine, the pre-colonial charm of the city is evident.

There is a lot of history in St. Augustine. It was founded in 1565 by the Spanish and is actually the first place a Catholic Mass was ever celebrated in the US. By 1763, Florida had become a British colony and it became a State in 1845. We all know what happened after that: orange groves, snowbirds and Disneyworld! Through all that, St. Augustine retained its charm and historical significance. It was a vacation spot for the super rich in the early part of the 20th Century, sort of a Newport South with large Spanish Colonial Revival Style Mansions which still exist to this day.

But what is there to do in St. Augustine? Well, it is Florida, so the beach is always an option. Or you could stroll the old town area an soak in the culture and history. One of the fun, ongoing Events in St. Augustine is Uptown Saturday Night which takes place from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm the last Saturday in October and November. That would be October 27th and November 24th this year. All the galleries, antique stores and bookshops have special exhibits and book signings. Street musicians perform and there are wine tastings everywhere! It's an open air party throughout the Uptown San Marco Shopping District.

I love street music festivals in general. Live music is my cup of tea and there is such a variety of performers, there's sure to be a musical genre to suit just about anyone.

There's free parking too! If you are looking for one of the best, most enjoyable Events in St. Augustine, Uptown Saturday Night fits the bill!