Founders Day participants striding under the flags.

450th Founder's Day 2015

Join the City of St. Augustine as it commemorates the 450th anniversary of its founding on September 8, 2015.

Please Note: This event is from 2015

450th Founder's Day 2015

(877) 352-4478

Various locations in St. Augustine's historic district.

The city-wide celebration of St. Augustine's 450th anniversary will culminate in the commemorative events taking place on Founder's Day, September 8, 2015. St. Augustine is the oldest continuously-occupied European settlement in the continental United States. On Tuesday September 8, the city has planned a series of ceremonies to commemorate this significant historical milestone, including a re-enactment of Pedro Menéndez's 1565 landing on these shores, a procession of hundreds through the city streets to the Cathedral Basilica, and a commemorative mass at the Cathedral with dozens of Catholic bishops from Europe and the Americas to honor the establishment of America's first parish.

The morning begins with the Countdown Clock Ceremony at the Visitors Information Center at 7:45 a.m. At 9 a.m., the historical re-enactment of Menendez' landing will take place at the Mission Nombre de Dios. Following that will be the Procession from the Mission to the Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine, and then the Commemorative Mass at the Cathedral Basilica at 11 a.m.

For more info on the 450th Celebration in general and other commemorative events leading up to Founder's Day, please visit here.

Admission: All events are free.

When and Where? Tuesday, September 8, 2015, at the following times and locations:

7:45 a.m. - Countdown clock ceremony at the Visitor Information Center (10 W. Castillo Dr.)

9 a.m. - Menéndez landing re-enactment at the Mission Nombre de Dios (27 Ocean Avenue, just north of downtown)

10 a.m. - Grand procession to the Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine (along San Marco Ave., S. Castillo Dr., and Avenida Menéndez to Cathedral Place)

11 a.m. - Commemorative Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine (38 Cathedral Place)

1 p.m. - Luncheon at the Treasury on the Plaza. This event is by invitation only due to limited seating.

2:30 p.m. - News Conference with Cardinal Sean O'Malley,  OFM, Cap., Archbishop of Boston, Bishop Felipe J. Estévez of the Diocese of St. Augustine and Archbishop Dionisio Guillermo García Ibáñez, Archbishop of Santiago de Cuba. The news conference will be held at the Treasury on the Plaza.

5:30 p.m. - Solemn Vespers (Evening Prayer) with Cardinal Sean O'Malley as the principal celebrant at the Cathedral Basilica. Open to the public.

Florida Living History is an active participant in this event. They are a community based, non-profit 501©3 organization of volunteers that are dedicated to educating the public about Florida's colonial and territorial history. They organize and participate in numerous living-history programs, demonstrations, and recreated portrayals of historical events throughout the year. Visit here for more information on this organization.

 

 

 

450th Founder's Day 2015

(877) 352-4478

Various locations in St. Augustine's historic district.

Admission | Ticket Prices

Free

Have a Question?

Editor's Note: We encourage you to verify event times and details with the organizers, as they may change.