St. Augustine MLK Day Events & Black History Month Celebrations

Martin Luther Kind Day events St. Augustine Florida



St. Augustine has a complex history, when it comes to civil rights and black history. While much controversy still surrounds the matter of race and equality in the oldest city in the nation, recent years have proved that there are many people and organizations in our community dedicated to shining a light on history, good and bad, when it comes to race relations in St. Augustine.

This Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service, you can help be a part of the solution, so bring your friends and family out to one of the many events.

And don't stop on MLK Day. Black History Month is coming up, and in St. Augustine this means numerous celebrations and Black History Month events.


MLK Day Events in St. Augustine Florida


2023 MLK Day Event in St. Augustine Florida

MLK Day of Service Clean-Up Event

When: January 16th, 2023 from 8 a.m. - 10 a.m.
Where: 711 Pearl Street, St. Augustine,  Florida 
What: Local organizations, businesses, churches, schools and residents come together to clean up the streets surrounding two of the oldest African American cemeteries in Florida and help clean up inside the cemeteries as well.

A continental breakfast will be provided, and there will be plant giveaways (limited quantity available)

Details: We will be cleaning up the streets around the San Sebastian, Pinehurst and Woodlawn cemeteries and around School #6.
BRING: Gloves and/or grabber, trash bags, your own water bottle, and high school volunteer forms. If doing the cemetery clean up, please bring gardening tools, such as rakes, pruners etc. 

After the clean-up, we invite anyone interested to come join us at the Silent March downtown (Starts at 86 MLK Ave at 10:30 A.M.) to honor and remember Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Civil Rights Movement in St Augustine. 

If you know of anyone buried at the San Sebastian and Pinehurst Cemeteries, please come help us locate their graves. 

Many graves (including more recent graves) are losing their markers, and we want to work on getting new markers out before the final resting places of so many are lost forever. Come talk to us at the WAIA table, and help us spread the word in the community too.
Cost: FREE 
Parking: 711 Pearl Street. St. Augustine, FL
Overflow parking at: N Mclaughlin Street, across from school #6 (405 N Mclaughlin Street)
Hosts: The West Augustine Nature Society & the West Augustine Improvement Association
Partners: Learn to Read St. Johns County, St. Gerard Campus, St. Johns & Putnam Latter-day Saints, St. Augustine High School Interact Club, Sigma Pi Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., The Nu Epsilon Sigma Chapter Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., St Gerard Campus, & Beachside High School's National Honors Society.
Contact: Westaugustinenaturesociety(@)gmail.com 
Sponsors: West Augustine realtor Elizabeth Jennings


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MLK Day Silent March

When: January 16, 2023 at 10:30 a.m.
Where: 86 MLK  Boulevard, St. Augustine,  FL.
Details: Join the Dr. Martin Luther King Celebration Committee of St. Johns County for the silent march to commemorate the route taken in 1986 by the Governor and the cabinet to recognize the national holiday in honor of Dr. King.

The march will leave 86 MLK Boulevard at 10:35 a.m. and go to the downtown plaza where the Reverend Dr. Gary Williams will bring the message at 11:00 a.m
Cost: FREE
Parking: Parking is available on the northwest section of the 86 MLK parking lot (behind the rectory) and in the Lincolnville Museum parking lot just south on MLK Boulevard. 
Host: Dr. Martin Luther King Celebration Committee of St. Johns County
Contact: 
Sponsors: Wells Fargo and Northrop Grumman


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The 38th Annual Commemorative Breakfast Honoring the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr's National Holiday

When: Monday, January 16th from 7:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
Details:
The 38th Annual Commemorative Breakfast Honoring the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr's National Holiday.

The speaker will be Dr. Diana L. Greene, Superintendent of Duval County Public Schools. All tables have been purchased.
Host: Dr. Martin Luther King Celebration Committee of St. Johns County
Contact: 904-669-8863
Sponsors: Wells Fargo and Northrop Grumman

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St. Augustine MLK Day Events

It Starts With Me - Cultivating a Beloved Community Mindset to Transform Unjust Systems

When: Monday, January 16th, 2023 at 1:30 pm.
Where: Lincolnville Museum and Cultural Center, 102 Martin Luther King Ave., St. Augustine, FL.
Details: Join local community leaders in a panel discussion honoring the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The panel will focus on the national theme of MLK day, "It Starts With Me: Cultivating a Beloved Mindset to Transform Unjust Systems.” 

Panelists Pastor Lavern March of Living Waters Ministries, Regina Gayle Phillips, Executive Director of the LMCC, Rev. David Williamson of Grace United Methodist, Floyd Phillips, President of the Friends of Lincolnville, Inc., City Commissioner and Associate Professor Barbara Blonder and Todd Neville, CPA, former Vice-Mayor of the City of St. Augustine will be leading the discussion, moderated by Jennifer L. Smalls, the SAPD Accreditation Manager. 

The panel will take place in the Excelsior Room on the second floor of the Lincolnville Museum and Cultural Center at 1:30 p.m. Light refreshments are available. Registration for this event is free through Eventbrite at 

Cost: FREE 


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A Night of Living History 

When: Thursday, January 12th, 2023 at 6 p.m.
Where: St. Paul A.M.E. Church, 85 M. L. King Street, St. Augustine, Florida.
Details: Please join us for A Night of Living History as we remember Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the time he spent in St. Augustine, FL at St. Paul A.M.E. Church. 

The event will also feature Mr. James Jackson who used to walk with Dr. King, when he visited St. Augustine, FL.

Hosts: Sigma Pi Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. In partnership with the St. Paul A.M.E. Church and the Dr. Martin Luther King Celebration Committee of St. Johns County.
Contact: jawesley0(@)gmail.com






Black History Month Events in St. Augustine:


2023 Resilience Family Fest. St. Augustine, Florida


2023 Resilience Family Fest 


When: Saturday, February 18th, 12 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Where: Solomon Calhoun Center, 1300 Duval Stree, St. Augustine, FL.
Details: The St. Augustine Archival Society presents “Resilience Family Fest” as a celebration of St. Augustine’s Black history and culture. “Resilience Family Fest” will feature musical performances, food trucks, historical reenactments, pop-up exhibits, arts and crafts activities, oral history interviews, and much more. All are welcome to the free community event; young and old, individuals and families, residents and visitors.  
Cost: FREE 
Host: The St. Augustine Archival Society
Partners: The “Resilience Family Fest” partners include, Flagler College Proctor Library, Flagler College Honors Program, Friends of the Main Library St. Augustine, Governor’s House Cultural Center & Museum, Lincolnville Museum & Cultural Center, St. Augustine Historical Society, St. Johns County Public Library System, and Samuel Proctor Oral History Program. “Resilience Family Fest” is supported in part by the St. Johns Cultural Council, St. Johns County Parks and Recreation, Compassionate St. Augustine, and Lincolnville Porch Festival.
Contact: blackheritagestaugustine@gmail.com







Freedom Trail Trolley Tours

When: January 14th, February 4th, February 11th and February 18th
Where: Starts at the Willie Galimore Center, 499 S Riberia Street, St. Augustine, Fl.
Details:  Sign up for ACCORD Freedom Trail Tours on the Old Town Trolley Bus with David Nolan, local Historian and founding Member of ACCORD.
Cost: Depends on the date
Parking: Park at the Willie Galimore Center, 499 S Riberia Street, St. Augustine, Fl.
Contact: 904 347 1382



Accord Museum Freedom Trail Guided and Self-Guided Tours

When: January 14th, February 4th, February 11th and February 18th
Where: The Accord Museum, 79 Bridge Street, St. Augustine, FL.
Details: ACCORD Freedom Trail Tours
Cost: Depends on the date
Contact: 904 347 1382






Black history in St. Augustine is a topic that is a focus of the West Augustine News Connection: 












You can always find a list of FREE St. Augustine Events here, or click the FREE event tab in the navigation bar.


If you are hosting a MLK event or Black History Month event for the community that has not been listed above and would like to be included, please send an email with your flyer and the details to westaugustinenewsconnection@gmail.com .



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