It must be Spring in northern Florida because the St. Augustine area is hosting a plethora of activities you just can't participate in all. Let's see, there's a golf putting championship where one can win $10,000. Then there's the Sea Turtle Homecoming Festival, the fishing workshop, and coral reef expedition at the IMAX.

List of ACTIVITIES weekend of April 17-19, 2009
Joe Cocker Concert
Transparency U Wear Exhibit
Coral Reef Adventure at the IMAX Theater
Ripley's Shadows
Earth Day Celebration
3rd Annual Sea Turtle Homecoming Festival
Great American Lighthouse Art Show
Shady Oyster Fishing Workshop
and more!


Friday: April 17

JOE COCKER LIVE!

Enjoy one of the truly great rock voices of all time, British white-soul singer Joe Cocker live in concert at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre. With his Ray Charles–ish vocals and eccentric stage presence, Cocker has been winning fans with hit records since the late 1960’s. The gates open at 6 and the show begins at 7:30 p.m. St. Augustine Amphitheatre is located at 1340 A1A South in St. Augustine . For more information, call 904.471.1965 or visit www.StAugAmphitheatre.com


TRANSPARENCY U WEAR EXHIBIT

Be among the first to experience this unique exhibit of Mapped Choices: Transparency U Wear, the works of Christina Foard. The opening reception, including special performances by The Braided Light Dance Project and Ashelea Penquite, takes place from 6:30-8 p.m. at The Cultural Center at Ponte Vedra Beach , 50 Executive Way . The exhibit will be on display through May 22. For more information, call 904. 280.0614.


CORAL REEF ADVENTURE AT THE IMAX THEATER

Explore the undersea world on the six story-high IMAX screen at the World Golf Hall of Fame. This film follows the real-life expedition of ocean explorers and underwater film makers through the islands and sun-drenched waters of the South Pacific to document the health and beauty of coral reefs. This film will be shown through October 15. Ticket prices are $8 for adults with discounts for children, military, seniors and students. For show times and additional information, visit the IMAX section of www.wgv.com.



Friday and Saturday: April 17 -18


RIPLEY’S SHADOWS IN THE DARK ANNIVERSARY BASH

At the stroke of midnight on Friday, the internationally-known internet radio show Shadows in the Dark with host Jeremiah Greer will launch its 24-hour anniversary celebration with a live radio broadcast from Ripley’s Believe It or Not! in St. Augustine . The broadcast and fun continues until midnight on Saturday. During that time, entertainment in Ripley’s sculpture garden will include illusionists, escape artists, drum circles, a Master of the Weird, Historian of the Strange and three Swamp Apes! The show’s anniversary events are free, plus Ripley’s will offer special discount admission to the museum throughout the day and a first-ever 3 a.m. Ghost Train Adventure. To listen to a live stream of the show or to see a complete lineup of guests and activities, go to www.shadows24.com . Tickets for the special Ghost Train Adventure are available at www.ghosttrainadventure.com. For more information, call 904.824.1606.



Saturday and Sunday: April 18-19


EARTH DAY CELEBRATION

Help support environmental citizenship by participating in this annual event that works toward a healthy planet. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on both days there will be live entrainment, arts and crafts, living history demonstrations, environmental and cultural booths, nature programs, live animals, a large children’s environmental activity center, and a visit from Smokey Bear. A variety of food and drink will also be available. The Earth Day Celebration takes place at Washington Oaks State Gardens , located at 6400 North Ocean Shore Blvd (A1A South) in Palm Coast . Admission to the event will be $8 per vehicle. For more information, call 386.446.6780, 386.446.6783, or e-mail Washington.Oaks.Gardens@dep.state.fl.us.



Saturday: April 18

CULTURAL CENTER YART SALE AT PVB

Shop for art created by a selected group of Cultural Center artists at the first ever YART Sale. The works will be priced at 50-75% off and no item will be priced at more than $500. The YART Sale takes place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Cultural Center at Ponte Vedra Beach , 50 Executive Way . For more information, call 904.280.0164.



BARTRAM BASH AT ALPINE GROVES PARK

Bring the whole family to commemorate Earth Day and William Bartram’s Birthday at the 5th Annual Bartram Bash Celebration! The Bartram Bash will celebrate birds, butterflies, the history of William Bartram and the history of Alpine Groves Park. Activities include a Bird Walk at 9:15 a.m., kayak rides at 10:30 a.m.; a free hot dog lunch at noon; William Bartram “speaks” at 1 p.m.; a butterfly release at 2 p.m.; and live music at 1:30, 2:30 and 3 p.m. At noon, Alpine Groves Park’s selection as a new destination on the Great Florida Birding Trail will be celebrated. The fun takes place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Alpine Groves Park, located at 2060 State Road 13, along the William Bartram Scenic & Historic Highway in northwest St. Johns County. For more information call 904.522.1573.



3rd ANNUAL SEA TURTLE HOMECOMING FESTIVAL

Come celebrate the return of the sea turtles for the 2009 nesting season! Hosted by Keepers of the Coast and free to the public, the day’s activities include raffles and a silent auction, a children’s activity center with face painting and fun activities and live music by Aslyn and the Naysayers and Saltwater Cowgirls. Attendees will also have opportunities to shop for marine-related arts and crafts from local artisans and enjoy food and drinks provided by Purple Olive and Fusion Tea. The fun all takes place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the St. Augustine Beach Pier Pavilion, A1A Beach Blvd. For more information call 904.209.3740.



GREAT AMERICAN LIGHTHOUSE ART SHOW

Meet one of the top lighthouse artists in the country during the St. Augustine Lighthouse art show and sale. The show will feature the work of nationally renowned watercolor artist Donna Elias who is touring the country celebrating the 20th Anniversary of her popular Great American Lighthouses Collection, a series of paintings commemorating over 300 historic beacons, including the St. Augustine Lighthouse. The event takes place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the St. Augustine Lighthouse, located at 81 Lighthouse Avenue . For more information call 904.829.0745 or visit www.staugustinelighthouse.com.



WORLD GOLF HALL OF FAME PUTTING CHAMPIONSHIP

Put your putt to the challenge when the World Golf Hall of Fame at World Golf Village hosts its sixth-annual Putting Championship on the Hall of Fame’s 18-hole, natural-grass putting course. Open to all amateur golfers in northeast Florida , the championship will continue for three weekends with the top 16 finalists competing on May 2 for the title of “World Golf Hall of Fame Putting Champion” and the opportunity to win more than $10,000 in prizes. Participants should register in advance. Day-of registrants will be subject to availability. For additional information and registration forms, call 904.940.4118 or visit www.wgv.com.


ANCIENT CITY POETS OPEN HOUSE

Explore your inner poet during this first annual event. Share a poem or just sit back and listen. Local poet Chris Bodor will host the open microphone portion and will read poems from his most popular manuscript, Railroad Ties. Additional special guest readers for this afternoon event will include Norma Schwartz, Howard (Zhabbo) Lewis, Judy Westley, Mischele Miller, and Dr. Gail Pflaster. The event will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Art Advocate located at 76 B San Marco Ave. , St. Augustine . For more information, call 904.826.4116 or visit www.stjohnsculture.com.



SHADY OYSTER FISHING WORKSHOP

Learn everything you need to know to get out on the water in a kayak and catch a fish. Fisherman Jeff McGovern will teach knotting, types of lures and equipment, the right tackles and how to rig a kayak for fishing. The workshop takes place from 9 to 10:30 a.m. at Shady Oyster Fish Camp, 291 Cubbedge Rd. Crescent Beach. The cost is $25 per person – includes hot coffee, hot chocolate and muffins. For more information call 904.471.4144 or visit www.shadyoysterfishcamp.com.



FORT MATANZAS NATURE EXPLORATIONS

Be a part of this National Parks Service Nature Series at Fort Matanzas National Monument . These ranger-led walks are part of a series of excursions, each exploring a different habitat or ecosystem at Fort Matanzas . The tours take place on the last Saturday of each month from 9:30 - 11:30 am. Fort Matanzas National Monument is located on A1A at the south end of Anastasia Island approximately 15 miles south of St. Augustine . For more information, call 904.461.0116 or visit www.nps.gov/foma.



Sunday: April 19

VILANO BEACH FARMERS MARKET

Shop for fresh produce, desserts, baked goods and high-quality arts and crafts at the new Farmers Market at the Vilano Beach Pier Pavilion. The market will be open each Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. For more information, call 904.540.8797 or go to www.thesundaymarket.com .


MENORCAN DAY TEA

Learn more about unique Menorcan customs while enjoying a traditional Menorcan tea. The tea is hosted by three natives who can trace their heritage back through nearly 445 years of St. Augustine history and into antiquity in Spain . These heritage natives portray the city’s Spanish Royal Family – Queen Maria Anna, her son King Carlos, and her daughter Princess Margarita Maria – the royal family of Spain during the construction of the city’s Castillo de San Marcos . Refreshments will be served from 2 to 4 p.m. in the Cathedral Basilica courtyard, in front of the Menorcan statue. For more information, call 904.824.4991.