27 Oct Castillo by Candlelight: Living History Event in St. Augustine, FL 2019
Deepen Your Historic Knowledge At Castillo de San Marcos National Monument
History buffs will love a chance to relive history at Castillo de San Marcos National Monument in St. Augustine, FL. On December 6, 2019, the national monument will celebrate its annual traditional reenactment of the famous 1740 Seige that occurred between the Spanish and British almost three hundred years ago at their event, Castillo by Candlelight: Enemy at the Gates.
St. Augustine is widely recognized as the oldest European-established settlement in the United States. It was founded by Spanish explorers in the late 1500s and served as the Spanish capital for more than 200 years. The 1740 Siege was part of a larger conflict between Britain and Spain called the War of Jenkins’ Ear. The story goes that the conflict began when Spanish coast guards boarded a British merchant ship and severed the ear of the captain, Robert Jenkins. The British used this as an excuse to stoke anti-Spanish sentiments that they believed would help them gain more economic power in the Caribbean. So in 1740, the British invaded Spanish-held St. Augustine in a siege that lasted from June through July and that the Spanish ultimately won.
The Event
This event is part of a series offered at the national monument. “Castilla by Candlelight” covers many different historical aspects of St. Augustine and this particular event will reenact the famous siege and depict the fort as it was during that time. It will showcase not only the various military aspects of the siege but also how it may have been experienced by the local citizens. Several stations will be set up with historic interpreters in period costumes describing their experience of the siege, including:
- British headquarters
- British look-out
- Spanish governor’s headquarters
- Supply room
- Medical room
- Soldier’s quarters
Admission is $15 for those age 16 and up. Space is limited, and tickets will be available two weeks before the event by calling (904) 829-6506, ext. 239 or at the Castillo de San Marcos ticket booth. The event will run from 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. on Friday, December 6, 2019.
Stay With Us
We are located just down the road from this event! You might even choose to walk there from Casa de Solana because it is a mere half-mile walk and will take you along the beautiful Matanzas Riverfront with breathtaking views of the Bridge of Lions. Book a room and immerse yourself in beautiful, historic St. Augustine!
San Pablo Bastion photo courtesy of Juliancolton – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, Link