The cultural heritage experiences embrace spirituality, culture, and community from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday
Holy Week welcomes visitors and locals to celebrate the rich religious history of Florida’s Historic Coast with an array of sacred ceremonies and cultural festivities from Palm Sunday through Easter Sunday. All are invited to come together and celebrate the season of renewal in St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra and The Beaches.
A quick glance at the architecture of downtown St. Augustine reveals the importance religion held for the city’s European settlers, whose piety was given permanence through the beautiful and historic houses of worship. During Holy Week, many churches offer services, vigils, and events where visitors can embark on a spiritual exploration and perhaps even a transformation. From the towering Cathedral Basilica to the quaint garden-like Mission Nombre de Dios just one mile north, there’s no shortage of events to stir the spirit.
The Mission Nombre de Dios is a historic and holy site where Pedro Menendez de Aviles and his party landed and proclaimed the site for Spain and the Catholic Church on September 8, 1565. Reverently referred to as the nation’s most “sacred acre,” the mission is a holy place of pilgrimage, with visitors worldwide coming to visit the National Shrine of Our Lady de la Leche.
Holy Week Events at the Mission Nombre de Dios include:
Palm Sunday, March 24:
Palm Sunday Mass at 1 p.m.
Holy Wednesday, March 27:
Liturgy of the Word with Communion at noon
Holy Thursday, March 28:
Confession from 11 a.m. until noon
Good Friday, March 29:
The Last Seven Words of Jesus (Spanish) 9 a.m.;
Confession from 11 a.m. to noon;
Stations of the Cross at the Great Cross at 3 p.m.
Holy Saturday, March 30:
Confession from 11 a.m. to noon;
Seven Sorrows Walk at the Sacred Area at noon
Easter Sunday, March 31:
Mass by Bishop Erik Pohlmeier at the Rustic Altar
at the Sacred Acre at 9 a.m.
The Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine is home to the nation’s first Catholic parish. The parish’s original place of worship, built in 1797, was destroyed by a devastating fire in 1887. James Renwick, Jr., architect of St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City, spearheaded the Cathedral Basilica’s reconstruction. His crew salvaged the original coquina blocks and cement masonry of the original building, embracing Spanish mission features and adding soaring timber beams. Henry Flagler contributed to the rebuilding efforts with a six-story bell tower that still rings throughout the city.
Holy Week events at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine include:
March 23:
Palm Sunday Vigil at 5 p.m.
Palm Sunday, March 24:
Palm Sunday Mass at 7, 9,& 11 a.m., and 5 p.m.
Blessing of the Fleet procession to the St. Augustine Municipal Marina at noon.
Holy Monday, March 25:
Mass at 7 a.m.
Royal Knighting Ceremony at 6 p.m.
Holy Tuesday, March 26:
Mass at 7 a.m.
Holy Wednesday, March 27:
Mass at 7 a.m.
Holy Thursday, March 28:
Mass of the Lord’s Supper celebrated by Bishop Erik Pohlmeier at 6 p.m.
Adoration following mass until midnight
Good Friday, March 29:
Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion at 3 p.m.
Stations of the Cross at 6 p.m.
Holy Saturday, March 30:
Confession from 8am to 9:30 a.m.
Blessing of Easter Food at 2 p.m.
Easter Vigil celebrated by Bishop Erik Pohlmeier at 8:30 p.m.
Easter Sunday, March 31:
Masses at 7, 9 and 11 a.m.
Behind the scenes tours of Cathedral Basilica are available Monday – Friday at 1 p.m. Tickets are available online.
Holy Week Services
Many churches of different denominations offer beautiful and stirring services. Colonial Church hosts a Good Friday Service at The AMP, complete with food trucks and concessions, on Friday, March 29, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. A full list of Easter services may be found here. March 31, 2024 Easter sunrise services are offered on Crescent Beach by Crescent Beach Baptist Church and Vilano Beach by Turning Point at Calvary Baptist Church, beginning at 7 a.m.
Other Easter Week Celebrations
The 65th Annual Easter Parade is a St. Augustine tradition that features the Royal Family, Storm Troopers, Easter Bunny, pirates, carriage horses, and an array of community floats. It begins Saturday, March 30 at 9 a.m., starting at the Old Jail, traveling along San Marcos Avenue to Avenida Menendez and ending in the Plaza de la Constitución at 10:30 a.m.
Each year, friends and families gather for the Easter Promenade on Easter Sunday afternoon. The Royal Family heads the promenade, with participants strolling through the Plaza de la Constitución, showing off their finest Sunday wear. Awards are presented in many fun categories, including one for the most creative Easter bonnet. The Easter Promenade is on Sunday, March 31, in the Plaza de la Constitución, from 1 to 2:30 p.m.
No matter how you choose to worship, Florida’s Historic Coast welcomes everyone to celebrate spirituality, culture, and community.
St. Johns County Easter Egg Hunts:
Thursday, March 28:
Palencia Park Easter Egg Hunt – 10 a.m. to noon. Free Admission. 405 Palencia Village Dr. St. Augustine 904-209-0332
Veterans Park Easter Egg Hunt – 10 a.m. to noon. Free admission. 1332 Veterans Parkway in St. Johns 904-209-0332
Saturday, March 30:
Al Wilke Park & Community Center Easter Egg Hunt – 10 a.m. – noon. Free admission. 6150 South Main Street, Hastings 904-209-0332
Treaty Park Easter Egg Hunt – 10 a.m. to noon. Free admission. 1595 Wildwood Dr., St. Augustine. 904-209-0332
Click here for image access. Access code is: Camelo
Located midway between Daytona Beach and Jacksonville, Florida’s Historic Coast includes historic St. Augustine, the outstanding golf and seaside elegance of Ponte Vedra, the rural beauty of Hastings, Elkton, St. Johns, and 42 miles of pristine Atlantic beaches. Visitor Information Centers are located at 10 Castillo Drive, St. Augustine; 200 Solana Rd. Suite B, Ponte Vedra Beach; and at the St. Johns County Beach Pier Park, 350 A1A Beach Blvd., St. Augustine Beach. For advance travel information call 1-800-653-2489 or go to the Visitors and Convention Bureau websites at www.FloridasHistoricCoast.com or www.ViajaStAugustine.com.
