450th Landing Day Celebration and Thanksgiving Feast

The Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park celebrates the founding of St. Augustine with their 450th Landing Day Celebration and Thanksgiving Feast on Saturday, September 5, 2015, starting at 10:00 a.m.

The Fountain of Youth hosts a celebration of Founder's Day and the original Thanksgiving annually, but this year will be special, as the whole city of St. Augustine celebrates its 450th birthday. Living history reenactors will recreate the landing of Pedro Menéndez de Aviles at 10 a.m. at the park's pier and will then sit down to a Thanksgiving meal, just like the Spanish did in 1565.

The first 300 guests will receive free vouchers to participate in the Thanksgiving meal, prepared by Smokin' D's BBQ. In addition, the park's restaurant, the Five Flags Café, will be offering chicken and and shrimp etouffees and beer, wine, water and soda for guests to purchase. 

There will be live music by Spanish acoustic guiarists James and Sylvia Kalal from 11 a.m. to just after lunch. At 2 p.m., local rock band The Pemberwicks will play at the Pavilion.

Dr. Michael Francis will be signing his new book, St. Augustine: America's First City, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Men of Menéndez will reenact 16th-century life in St. Augustine in an encampment at the park that will continue through Tuesday, September 8.

Guests attending the re-enactment will also have the opportunity to explore the historic grounds of the Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park. There are lots of hands-on activities at the park, including visiting the recreated Timucuan Village of Seloy, climbing a watchtower, and admiring the craftsmanship of an authentic reproduction of a chalupa, a boat used as a tender by Spanish galleons. There are a variety of shows and demonstrations in the park throughout the day that give visitors a clear picture of what life was like for the early Spanish settlers and the native Timucuans.

Admission: Admission to the Fountain of Youth is $15.00 for adults, $14.00 for seniors, $9.00 for children, and free for children under five. The first 300 guests will receive vouchers for a free meal. St. Johns County residents are free for this event.

When? Saturday, September 5, 2015, starting at 10:00 a.m. The Thanksgiving meal is at 11:00 a.m. The park is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Where? The Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park is located at 11 Magnolia Avenue in St. Augustine.

For more information about the park, visit here or call (904) 829-3168.

Cover photo courtesy of Jackie Hird.