Accent On Tampa Bay #213 Sept/Oct 2015 Sept/Oct 2015 | Page 54

O

n September 8, 1565, 800 Spaniards gathered
on the shores of a Florida saltmarsh at the site
of a large Native American village known as Seloy.
Soldiers and sailors were joined by more than
100 civilians; married men and women, artisans,
tradesmen and children, when Captain General don
Pedro Menéndez de Aviles stepped ashore from his
longboat. Kneeling and kissing the cross carried
by Father Lopez, Menéndez and his officers swore
allegiance to God and King and proclaimed this place
as “St. Augustine.”
That day marked the beginning of 450 years of
a diverse collection of people living, working and
raising families in the Nation’s oldest city.
St. Augustine is celebrating September 4 - 8,
2015 with more than 60 hours of free entertainment
and a wide variety of music scattered over five
stages throughout the city’s historic downtown,
a spectacular fireworks show over Matanzas Bay,
historic reenactments, and a Commemorative
Mass to be attended by Archbishops and Bishops
from across the U.S. and Cuba. The multiple-day
anniversary festival known as Celebrate 450! is
expected to attract over 35,000 people to the city.
Fri, Sept 4 - Historical and cultural performances
on multiple downtown stages with national and local
musical performances headlined by Mavis Staples
and Aaron Neville.
Sat, Sept 5 - The festival continues with music
headlined by Emmylou Harris with Rodney Crowell,

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Justin Townes Earle, and JJ Grey & Mofro. The day
will include a historic reenactment of the landing
of Pedro Menéndez at the location of the original
settlement – the Fountain of Youth - along with cultural
performances throughout the city. Culminating the
day’s activities will be a spectacular fireworks show
over the Matanzas Bay.
Sun, Sept 6 - The highlight of the day will be
the EMMA Concert Association Spanish Music and
Dance program which celebrates St. Augustine’s
Spanish heritage. Ensembles will perform all styles
of Spanish dance.
Mon, Sept 7 - A cake cutting, reading of a
proclamation and local music will take place in the
Gazebo in the Plaza de la Constitución across from
the historic Government House.
Tues, Sept 8 – 450 years to the day of St.
Augustine’s founding a reenactment of Pedro
Menéndez’s landing and a Commemorative Mass
attended by Catholic Archbishops, including the
Archbishops of Boston and of Cuba, will mark
the anniversary. The historical reenactment will
be followed by a procession of Catholic religious
leaders through town and a Commemorative Mass
at the Cathedral Basilica, home to the Nation’s
oldest Catholic parish. Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley,
Archbishop of Boston, and Archbishop Dionisio
Guillermo Garcia Ibañez, Archbishop of Santiago de
Cuba will be joined by more than 20 Bishops from
throughout the United States and Cuba.

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