St. Augustine Colonial Night Watch

12/07/2025

The Saint Augustine Colonial Night Watch 2025 was an extraordinary success, and we are deeply grateful to everyone who helped make it possible. The Historic Florida Militia and the Saint Augustine Garrison hope you were able to experience what has truly become Saint Augustine’s premier living history event. Thousands of you joined us this year. For those who could not, you missed more than 150 historically attired interpreters bringing the past to life through a remarkable encampment and the Torch Light Parade along Saint George Street.

As we celebrate our tenth annual Colonial Night Watch, we extend our heartfelt thanks to all who contributed to this year’s success. (Please forgive me if anyone is inadvertently overlooked.)

A special thank-you goes to Cindy and John Stavely of the Colonial Quarter Museum for graciously allowing us to use the property for our living history encampment. All day Saturday, thousands of visitors entered the Quarter free of charge to explore our camp and enjoy Native American presentations, blacksmithing demonstrations, the sugar press, sword fighting, musket firings, and much more. The Colonial Quarter remains a truly magical place where history comes alive.

Our sincere gratitude also goes to Billy Triay and the University of Florida Historic Saint Augustine for providing access to your properties. The Governor’s House Museum—especially its balcony—once again served as a perfect and iconic setting for our ceremonies.

Thank you to Steve Roberts, Kristin Brunsman, Chris Leverett, the Law Enforcement Rangers, and the entire National Park Service staff at the Castillo de San Marcos. Despite the challenges and new regulations presented this year, your professionalism and dedication ensured the event’s continued success.

We also extend our appreciation to the City of St. Augustine. With your support, we were able to proudly share the city’s rich and diverse history. Thousands of residents and visitors lined the parade route, celebrating yet another cherished tradition. Our ancient city is a truly special place, unmatched in historical significance anywhere in the nation, and with your continued support, we remain committed to keeping that history vibrant and alive.

Thank you to the St. Johns Cultural Council for your continued support, which is vital to preserving the historical heritage that contributes so strongly to our community’s tourism and identity.

To all who participated—many of whom traveled great distances from Georgia, North Carolina, Maryland, and beyond—thank you for sharing your passion and knowledge with the people of Saint Augustine.

A special note of gratitude goes to Sonia San Juan, Vice Consul of Spain for St. Augustine and Jacksonville, for your exceptional portrayal of our ceremonial governess, and to Danielle Gallman for your beautiful renditions of traditional Christmas carols, which brought joy to the hundreds gathered in the Plaza.

Thank you also to Mother Nature for granting us just enough fair weather to complete our Torch Light Parade before the rain began.

And finally, my deepest thanks go once again to Ria, whose tireless hard work is at the heart of what makes Night Watch so special each year. It was not easy—but it was absolutely worth it.

With sincere appreciation,
Bob Alvarez
President, Saint Augustine Garrison
COO, Historic Florida Militia

11/24/2025

This year's premiere living history event, the Saint Augustine Colonial Night Watch, will be held Saturday December 6, 2025. This day long event, starting at 10:00am, will feature Spanish, British, and Native American historians portraying events from the years 1739 through 1784. Join hundreds of costumed re-enactors from St. Augustine’s Colonial past at the Colonial Quarter Museum on Saint George Street and the lawn of the Castillo de San Marcos. Soldiers will perform military drills and cannon and musket firing on the grounds of the Castillo and the Colonial Quarter. See a working sugar mill, colonial rope making, wool spinning, a leather worker, pewter smith, and medical displays at the Colonial Quarter. Chat with the re-enactors , ask questions about Saint Augustine’s storied past and take some photographs that will be treasured for years to come. The day's activities will end with a torch light parade through the streets of Saint Augustine. The parade will start at 7:00pm from the grounds of the Castillo and proceed through the City Gates and down St. George Street. The public is encouraged to follow the march (if you have a lantern bring it along) to the Plaza de Constitution and the Governor’s House Museum. From the balcony of the Governor’s House the ceremonial Spanish Governor will greet and address the crowd. A brief ceremony will be followed by a massive musket volley. Following this “Volley of Joy” all those assembled are invited to ring in the Holiday Season with the singing of Christmas Carols. This is always a highlight of the evening and again a perfect spot for photographs.
Saturday’s events at the Colonial Quarter, and on the Castillo lawns are free of charge and open to the public. Start your Holiday Season with an event that will create lasting memories for the entire family.
For those reenactors and living history interpreters who wish to participate in this event, the registration form is now available online at
https://hfm.club/about/garrison/colonial-night-watch-for-participants/

11/20/2025

Make this a part of your Holiday Tradition

10/14/2025

The registration form for participants of this years Colonial Night Watch is now on the HFM.club website. The dates of one of St Augustine’s oldest running living history events are Dec 5 and 6, 2025. Again this year Night Watch commemorates the time period 1738-1784. Spanish and British troops along with their indigenous allies will gather together to present St. Augustine’s rich and diverse history to thousands of visitors and residents. The torch light parade, watched by thousands, is truly a spectacle to see. Of course as always this event is free and open to the public. If you want to participate register now. Go to HFM.club, clink on the St Augustine Garrison banner, click on Night Watch for participants in the dropdown menu, fill out the form and hit send. It’s that easy.

Home Historic Florida Militia provides recreation of events that took place in St. Augustine and do walking ‘timelines’ through the streets to educate visitors to the history of the City. These programs are sponsored by the Tourist Development Council and the Cultural Council. Our Mission The....

07/18/2025

The living history community lost an icon this morning. Please keep Robbie in your thoughts and prayers.

A message from Bill Zukauskas…
“My beloved wife, Roberta Morris Zukauskas, went to the Lord this morning at 7:25. She passed peacefully in her sleep. She was a proud, fierce independent woman with over 40 years of military and law enforcement service. A talented musician, playing 17 different instruments skillfully and touching the hearts of all that heard her. A devoted daughter, a loving sister and incredible wife. I will miss you always until we’re together again forever.”