Aviles Street Festival

On Sunday, September 8, 2024, from noon to 9:00 p.m., the establishments on Aviles Street host the Aviles Street Festival, to celebrate St. Augustine's heritage.

The Ximenez-Fatio House Museum, the St. Johns Cultural Council, and the City of St. Augustine present the Aviles Street Festival celebrating the history of this old, brick-paved street and St. Augustine's Spanish heritage.

Events on Sunday, the 8th

First, at 10:00 a.m., before the noon start of the festival, the City of St. Augustine will host a ceremony that includes the unveiling and dedication of a new marker placed in honor of the 100th anniversary. There will also be a rededication of the mosaic tile that Avilés, Spain gave to the city in 2002.

The festival will begin at noon and last until 9:00 p.m.

• The merchants, museums, and gardens along Aviles Street invite the public to enjoy exhibits, events, music, and food.
• Reenacters representing Spanish soldiers, residents, and dignitaries from old St. Augustine will stroll Aviles Street, and musicians, plein-air artists, and flamenco dancers will provide entertainment.
• Several of the shops, museums, and galleries will host special events.
• There will be live music to enjoy and crafts and food to purchase.
• Ximenez-Fatio House Museum will be open from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. presenting two special exhibits:
  • An exhibition featuring Andres Ximenez and his wife Juana Pellicer. Andres, a Spanish merchant, built the house in 1798 with assistance from Juana's father.
  • Memorabilia from the 1924 delegation from St. Augustine that attended the re-interment of Pedro Menendez's remains in Aviles, Spain.
• An open-air concert by Tejedor, in the Plaza de la Constitución, at 2:00 p.m., Sunday.
• Plein Air Paint Out on Aviles Street, as select artists create paintings during the festival. 
• The newly reopened gardens at the Father O'Reilly House Museum will be open for viewing at no charge.
• The courtyard at 12 Aviles Street, in the Segui Kirby-Smith House, will be open.

Other Anniversary Events

Thursday, September 5 — Tejedor Band Concert from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.

Friday, September 6 — First Friday Art Walk, will include an artists' market and special events celebrating our relationship with Avilies, Spain. 

Saturday, September 7 — The Annual Founders Day Celebration, celebrating Pedro Menendez's landing in St. Augustine from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Saturday, September 7 — Tejedor in concert at Colonial Oak Music Park from 8:00 to 10:00 p.m.

Friday, September 20 —  ZaZa Flamenca at the Waterworks. An evening of Spanish rhythms, Flamenco music, and dance. Tickets are $25.00.

September 1 - October 30 — Ximenez-Fatio House Museum will continue to show their special 100th Anniversary exhibits.

100th Anniversary of Sister City Relationship

In 1924, delegates from St. Augustine joined others from Florida to attend a burial ceremony for Pedro Menendez de Avilés. The Avilés City Council had extended the invitation and the St. Augustine delegates traveled with an outer coffin as a gift to the city where Menendez was born. 

This was the first of many exchanges between St. Augustine and the City of Avilés. Even though the sister-city agreement wasn't formalized until 2000, the 100th anniversary is celebrated this year, in honor of the many cultural exchanges and official visits during the past 100 years.

History of Aviles Street

Aviles Street was recorded on maps at least as early as the 1570s, enabling the city to claim it as the oldest platted street in the U.S. In 1742, a member of the Spanish founding family died and left his home to the king. It was turned into a hospital that later established a reputation for sound scientific understanding of human physiology and treatment. The name "Hospital Street" was used until 1924, when it was changed to Aviles Street to honor St. Augustine's Sister City, Aviles, Spain.

Today, visitors turning from King Street pass under a coquina arch proclaiming they are now on Aviles Street, and can immediately see a colorful tile mural to their right. Presented to the City of St. Augustine by the City of Aviles, Spain in 2002, the mural is made of tiles created by Spanish artists, teachers, and students.