Exhibit of Menorcan Art
2022-03-03 08:00 - 2022-03-30 17:00 UTC | Oldest House Gardens, 14 St. Francis St., St. Augustine, FL, 32084, United States
Exhibit of Minorcan Art at the Dunham building
at the Oldest House Complex
Sponsored by the Minorcan Experience and the St. Augustine Foundation

Minorcan Writers Symposium
2022-03-12 14:00 - 15:30 UTC | Lewis Auditorium, 14 Granada St., St. Augustine, FL, 32084, United States
Minorcan writers discuss and answer questions about books on the Minorcans.
As part of Minorcan Heritage Month in St. Augustine, Minorcan writers discuss and answer questions about books on the Minorcans of Florida. The Minorcan presence along Florida’s Historic Coast is traced back to 1768, when Scottish speculator Dr. Andrew Turnbull cast his sight on an indigo plantation in New Smyrna. After years of strife and starvation, the Minorcans, Greeks and Italians working the plantation relocated to St. Augustine and have been an important part of the city’s cultural heritage since.
Featured Speakers include: Dr. Darien Andreu, Flagler College Associate Professor of English and Director of the Minorcan Studies Project, Dr. Ann Browning Masters, author and poet, and Ms. Sandie Stratton, historian.
Co-sponsored by the Minorcan Studies Project with funding from the St. Augustine Foundation

Meet and Greet with Minorcan Artists
2022-03-19 11:00 - 15:00 UTC | Oldest House Complex, 271 Charlotte St., St. Augustine, FL, 32084, United States
Artwork on Display March 3rd – 30th; Paintings, Photography, Fishnet Maker
Sponsored by the Minorcan Experience and the St. Augustine Foundation

Minorcan Burials
2022-03-26 10:00 - 17:00 UTC | Mission of Nombre de Dios, 101 San Marco Ave, St. Augustine, Florida, 32084
At Mission of Nombre de Dios and their connection to Tolomato Cemetery.
Meet at the Pilgrimage Center under the covered pavilion.
Project with funding from the St. Augustine Foundation
Sponsored by the Minorcan Experience and the St. Augustine Foundation

NEW SMYRNA HERITAGE DAY
2022-04-02 09:00 - 16:00 UTC | Old Fort Park, 115 Julia St., New Smyrna Bch, Fl, 32168, France

ST. AMBROSE SPRING FAIR
2022-04-03 12:00 - 16:00 UTC | St. Ambrose Catholic Church, 6070 Church Rd, Elkton, FL, 32033, United States
Enjoy this spring festival from noon-4 p.m. with live music, food, games and more at St. Ambrose Church in Elkton. Admission and parking are free. 6070 Church Rd., Elkton 904-692-1366..

MENORCAN FESTIVAL 2022
2022-05-07 11:00 - 14:00 UTC | llambias House, St. Francis St. St. Augustine, Fl, 31 St. Francis St., St. Augustine, FL, 32084, United States
More information to follow

“Celebremos lo que Somos” Hispanic Voices of Northeast Florida
2022-10-19 18:00 - 20:00 UTC | Old St. Andrews Church, 317 A. Philip Randolph Blvd., Jacksonville, FL, United States
Speaker Series: “Celebremos lo que Somos” Hispanic Voices of Northeast Florida

This presentation celebrates the Hispanics of Northeast Florida and the impact of their presence historically, economically, and culturally, not only over the past several decades, but for the last 250 years. Dr. Rebecca Dominguez-Karimi will discuss different groups that migrated to Northeast Florida over the decades and centuries. She will be joined by Jacksonville Historical Society’s Oral Histories Coordinator, Justin P. Case, to talk about not only more recent Hispanic migration to the area, but also about the Menorcan migration during the late 1700s and their present-day descendants.

This talk includes an audio-visual presentation along with video footage of Hispanic oral histories from the Voces de Hispanos Oral History Collections. Thank you to the First Coast Hispanic Chamber of Commerce for their project support and inclusion of Voces de Hispanos Oral History Project in its “Celebremos lo que somos” Hispanic Heritage Month initiative.

Dr. Rebecca Dominguez-Karimi has a Ph.D. in Comparative Studies from Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida. She specializes in oral history, Mexican American studies, restorative justice and gender studies. A writer, podcaster and public speaker, she presents all across the state of Florida, and virtually across the US. Currently, she is partnering with Jacksonville Historical Society, St Augustine Historical Society, Clay County Archives and Amelia Island Museum of History to gather oral histories from the Hispanic community.
Justin P. Case is a graduate student in the History Department at the University of North Florida, president of Phi Alpha Theta Honor Society, and part-time Oral Histories Coordinator for the Jacksonville Historical Society.

Jacksonville Historical Society Inc
314 Palmetto Street
Jacksonville, FL 32202

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ST. JOHNS READS: THE MINORCAN EXPERIENCE
2023-01-26 13:00 - 14:00 UTC | The Waterworks next to Main Library, 184 San Marco Ave, St. Augustine, FL, 32084, United States
Friends of the Main Library St. Augustine is pleased to welcome Angela Saxon, Lea Craig, and Ryan Saxon of The Minorcan Experience to discuss this very important part of St. Augustine’s cultural history. Minorcans, the collective name given to a diverse group of Mediterranean peoples from Minorca, as well other Balearic Islands, Italy, Corsica, Greece, and France, arrived in St. Augustine in the eighteenth century during the British Period, and before long became an integral part of St. Augustine’s economy, serving as carpenters, artisans, sailors, farmers, masons, innkeepers, shoemakers, and fisherman. Attendees of this presentation will learn about how these Minorcans came to live in St. Augustine, cultural traditions they brought with them to their new home, and how The Minorcan Experience keeps these traditions alive today.
This program is free and open to the public, and will take place at The Waterworks, 184 San Marco Ave., which shares a parking lot with the Main Library. Seating begins at 12:00 pm, and the presentation starts promptly at 1:00 pm. No reservations are required. For more information, please call the Main Library at 904-827-6940.
St. Johns Reads is the St. Johns County Public Library System’s annual “one book, one community” event focused on creating a shared conversation on a selected novel. In its 18th year, the 2023 event features a variety of programs on Buttermilk Graffiti by Edward Lee including a special visit from the author at 2 pm on Saturday, January 14, at the First Coast Technical College’s Character Counts Conference Center, 2980 Collins Ave., St. Augustine. Buttermilk Graffiti is available to enjoy in print, digital audiobook, and eBook formats.
Funding for this program was provided through a grant from Florida Humanities with funds from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of Florida Humanities or the National Endowment for the Humanities. St. Johns Reads is generously supported by the St. Johns County Public Library System’s Friends of the Library groups.
The Waterworks is available through the generosity of the City of St. Augustine and the St. Johns Cultural Council.

ST. JOHNS READS: "DATIL PEPPERS AND CHEESE GRITS: MENORCAN INFLUENCES IN CUISINE" BY ANN BROWNING MASTERS
2023-01-28 14:00 - 15:00 UTC | Southeast Branch Public Library, 6670 US 1 South, St. Augustine, FL, 32086, United States
Dr. Ann Browning Masters brings her extensive research into the Menorcan culture to the Southeast Branch Library with her talk “Datil Peppers and Cheese Grits: Menorcan Influence in Cuisine.” Join us Saturday, Jan. 28, 2023, at 2:00pm to delve into the history of the Menorcan immigrants to Northeast Florida and the way that their cuisine has influenced our famous local dishes.
Brought to you by the Southeast Friends of the Library.

MENORCAN FESTIVAL 2023
2023-03-04 11:00 - 15:00 UTC | Oldest House Gardens, 14 St. Francis St., St. Augustine, FL, 32084, United States
EVERYONE IS INVITED ♦ NO ADMISSION CHARGE
Menorcan Clam Chowder, Pilau (of all kinds), Baked Goods
Oldest House Gardens
14 St. Francis St.

♦ MENU ♦
Menorcan Clam Chowder
Pilau (of all kinds)
Baked Goods

* Mullet Net Making with Mike Usina * Menorcan T-Shirts, Books, Flags * Datil Pepper Sauces & Jelly
* Menorcan Family Photos * Storytelling & Songs *Family Crests

St. Ambrose Spring Fair 2023
2023-03-26 12:00 - 16:00 UTC | St. Ambrose Catholic Church, 6070 Church Rd, Elkton, FL, 32033, United States

MENORCAN FESTIVAL 2024
2024-03-02 11:00 - 14:00 UTC | llambias House, St. Francis St. St. Augustine, Fl, 31 St. Francis St., St. Augustine, FL, 32084, United States
EVERYONE IS INVITED ♦ NO ADMISSION CHARGE
♦ MENU ♦
Menorcan Clam Chowder
Pilau (Shrimp & Sausage)

Baked Goods
Shirts & assorted Menorcan Gifts

ANDRES PACETTI: A MINORCAN IN ST. AUGUSTINE
2024-03-09 14:00 - 15:00 UTC | XIMENEZ – FATIO HOUSE, 20 AVILES ST., ST. AUGUSTINE, FL, 32084, United States
Step back in time and hear the story of a Minorcan colonist
and what life was like in 18th Century St. Augustine.
Presented by: Ryan Saxon

ST. AMBROSE SPRING FAIR 2024
2024-03-10 12:00 - 16:00 UTC | St. Ambrose Catholic Church, 6070 Church Rd, Elkton, FL, 32033, United States
Enjoy this spring festival from noon-4 p.m. with live music, food, games and more at St. Ambrose Church in Elkton. Admission and parking are free. 6070 Church Rd.,

MINORCAN TOLOMATO CEMETARY TOUR
2024-03-16 12:00 - 14:00 UTC | TOLOMATO CEMETARY, 14 Cordova St., ST. AUGUSTINE, FL, 32084, United States
Docents will be on hand to give tours of the first Minorcan burial place
in St. Augustine. There are various search materials on some of the families.
Tours last about 20 minutes each.

CANAL SYSTEM OF NEW SMYRNA
2024-03-24 13:00 - 17:00 UTC | The Water Works, 184 San Marco Ave, ST. AUGUSTINE, FL, 32084, United States
Greg Holbrook, Director of the New Smyrna Museum of History
will present information on the canal system. The canals were
dug by the colonists, to be used for transportation, drainage and
to water crops at the colony.

FOUNDERS DAY AT THE NEW SMYRNA MUSEUM OF HISTORY
2024-04-06 09:00 - 15:00 UTC | Old Fort Park, 115 Julia St., New Smyrna Bch, Fl, 32168, France
Learn about the beginning of New Smyrna Beach when “Smyrnea”, the largest British settlement attempt in North America was formed in 1768.

MENORCAN HERITAGE CELEBRATION
2025-03-01 11:00 - 14:00 UTC, 2026-03-14 11:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | llambias House, St. Francis St. St. Augustine, Fl, 31 St. Francis St., St. Augustine, FL, 32084, United States

LIGHT UP NIGHT 2025!
2025-11-15 | FL
Light-Up! Night honorees named for 2025 Nights of Lights

Minorcan heritage to shine in the Nation’s Oldest City
The City of St. Augustine is proud to announce the honorees for the 2025 Nights of Lights Light-Up! Night ceremony. This year’s event will take place on Saturday, November 15, with the lighting ceremony scheduled to begin at 6:30pm in the Plaza de la Constitución. The lighting tradition, which began in 2003, features a single ceremonial light switch that illuminates both the holiday tree and the canopy of oak trees lining the Plaza.

“This is an early recognition of the upcoming 250th anniversary of the Minorcans settling in St. Augustine,” Mayor Nancy Sikes-Kline announced. “They helped establish a strong and enduring community and are an integral part of our history and culture. It is my privilege as mayor to select the Light-Up! Night honorees every year, and this year is no exception.”
Rusty Hall, President of the Menorcan Cultural Society, and Lea Craig, one of the founders of The Minorcan Experience, will light the Plaza and the holiday tree from the gazebo.
The Menorcan Cultural Society was founded in the 1980s and continues to preserve and promote their heritage through events and education. More recently established is The Minorcan Experience, a group of descendants and relatives in St. Augustine who commemorate the Minorcan history and heritage with free events in March, celebrating Minorcan Heritage Month.
Rusty Hall is a proud heritage native of St. Augustine and a graduate of both St. Joseph Academy and Gupton-Jones College of Funeral Service. He is an active member of the Cathedral Basilica Parish and is a dedicated civic leader serving as President-elect of the St. Augustine Sunrise Rotary Club, Awards chairman for Rotary International District 6970, and President of the St. Joseph Academy Alumni Association.
Born in St. Augustine and of Minorcan heritage, Lea Craig is one of the founders of The Minorcan Experience. She has a great appreciation and love of St. Augustine’s history and in particular, she is proud of her work in telling the Minorcan story.
The Menorcan story began in 1768 when more than 1,400 Mediterranean settlers including Menorcan, Greek, Italian, Corsican, and French peoples arrived in British East Florida, settling in modern-day New Smyrna. After years of hardship, fewer than 700 survivors made their way to St. Augustine in 1777 where they were granted land in the northwest section of the city. Since then, Menorcan descendants have been an integral part of St. Augustine and St. Johns County.
Note: The English spelling “Minorcan” is used when discussing people from the island of Minorca and their descendants. The Menorcan Cultural Society prefers the Spanish spelling.
For more information about the day’s events, visit www.CityStAug.com/LightUpNight.
For media inquiries, contact Melissa Wissel, Communications Director, at 904.293.3307 or via email at mwissel@citystaug.com.
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Photo: 2025 Light-Up! Night honorees, Rusty Hall and Lea Craig
