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Hi St. Augustine, we made it to Thursday! In today’s edition: Hidden Irish-inspired castle, Toto live, Pirate Cats event, and more.
— Cait Baker
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📰 In the news
Where artistry meets antiquity: Hidden among sea oats near the Atlantic, St. Augustine’s Castle Otttis reimagines a 12th-century Irish fortress with soaring ceilings and spiritual touches, offering a quiet escape locals rarely notice — explore its design and purpose.
A nine-acre legacy: Dr. Robert B. Hayling Freedom Park honors a local civil rights hero with river views, public art, and Let Freedom Ring chimes, a reflective stop near downtown St. Augustine — explore its history and features.
New options for aircraft owners: Banyan Air Service added King Air 90 and 200 maintenance at Northeast Florida Regional Airport in St. Augustine, meeting growing demand and complementing existing Pilatus PC-12 and HondaJet support — see which aircraft are covered.
A shared journey through history: Pensacola and St. Augustine have launched From the 1500s, With Love, a campaign for America’s 250th linking historic stops, itineraries, and learning to inspire trips between Florida’s oldest cities — explore the itineraries and events.
Gold & silver are hot: Coming off gold’s best year since 1979, the momentum is carrying well into 2026 with silver remaining one of the most talked-about assets. Curious why precious metals are back in focus? American Hartford Gold has a free guide that explains what’s happening and how people are approaching it today. It’s free – and definitely worth a read.
Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175 per month. Paying more than that? Same, so I did some shopping around and ended up cutting my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too — here’s the comparison tool I used.
Nothing prepares you for a pet emergency: I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. As soon as we got home, I signed up for Spot. It’s super affordable – and reimburses up to 90% of the bill.
*We do our best to avoid paywalled articles. If any slip through, let me know which ones and I’ll permanently remove them from our source list!
Highlights this week:
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🫶 We got your back
Hometown heroes hit the ring: St. Johns County Fight Night hits the St. Augustine Amphitheatre today, February 26, with bouts featuring local police and fire department representatives from across the country. Local businesses can sponsor the event with perks like advertising on fighter robes, placement in programs, and complimentary tickets. Get event and sponsorship details.
Mobility and conservation in focus: An open house for the SUN Trail River-to-Sea Loop is happening today from 5 to 7 pm at the Anastasia Island Branch Library in St. Augustine Beach. Plans aim to boost safe walking and biking, link communities across five counties, and tie into the East Coast Greenway. Get all the details.
Historic sips and bites: Settle in at Ice Plant Bar for farm-to-table plates like grass-fed burgers and local seafood, plus cocktails mixed with house-pressed juices, all inside a restored 1927 ice plant. The historic setting makes weeknights feel special and invites you to linger.
Turn up the flavor: Whether you’re after a go-to rub, a pantry upgrade, or a loose-leaf pick-me-up, The Spice & Tea Exchange of St. Augustine hand-mixes 85+ seasonings daily and stocks salts, sugars, and a full tea bar. Consider your weeknight dinners rescued… and your taste buds a little giddy.
What do people see when they search your name? Search results can surface past mistakes or outdated information that no longer reflects who you are. BetterReputation helps remove and clean up unwanted content so your online presence matches your real life today. Not worried about yourself? Doesn’t hurt to mention it to family or friends who might be.
Take control of your credit card debt: High interest can keep you stuck paying more than you need to. A balance transfer card with 0% intro APR until 2027 and no annual fee gives you time to pay down what you owe without interest working against you. By transferring your balance, more of your payment goes toward the principal so you can actually make a dent in what you owe.
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📆 Around town this weekend
Have an event to share? BaseLocal Verified Businesses can submit them for free! Learn more about how to submit an event here →
All events are subject to change without notice. Always check official event pages for the most up to date information.
🏴 CKC Homeschool Community Day @ The St. Augustine Pirate & Treasure Museum, 12 S. Castillo Drive, St. Augustine, FL 32084 | Friday (2/27) at 11:00 AM – Double-header field trip for homeschoolers. Start with a guided romp through the St. Augustine Pirate and Treasure Museum, then wander the Castillo de San Marcos, cannons and sea breeze included. Kids call it adventure, you call it history, P.E., and a guaranteed early bedtime.
🎸 Styx @ The St. Augustine Amphitheatre | Friday (2/27) at 7:00 PM – Think you still know every word to Come Sail Away? Styx is swinging through town as part of their residency and select-city run, delivering arena harmonies, proggy detours, and righteous guitar heroics. Dust off the denim, warm up the falsetto, and relive the good stuff.
☠ 9th Annual Pirate Cats @ Solomon Calhoun Community Center | Saturday (2/28) at 10:00 AM – Only in the Ancient City do 150 cats compete while marauding pirates crash the photo ops and mingle with the krewe. Expect championship judging, vendors, and real adoptions, plus free parking and breakfast or lunch if you wear garb and find Michael.
🦆 Duck Friendship Event: Women’s Positivity Jars @ River & Fort Restaurant & Rooftop Lounge | Saturday (2/28) at 11:30 AM – If your inner cheerleader is running low, pop over here in St. Augustine to craft a Positivity Jar, swap uplifting quotes, and snag a Bond Duck for the shelf. Low drama, high heart, and conversation that actually sticks. RSVP: https://thebondmaker.com/event/duck-friendship-event-womens-positivity-jars-st-augustine-2/
🎭 One Woman Show – Martha Jane Pacetti @ The Waterworks | Saturday (2/28) at 2:00 PM – Swap your streaming queue for a seat at The Waterworks, where Dianne Jacoby becomes Martha Jane Pacetti, a tough Florida Cracker who survived wars, married at 14, and ran a fishing outfit. Proceeds aid the Homeless Coalition, refreshments included, and two-for-$50 practically begs a buddy.
🎨 February Beginning Watercolor Painting Class – Oranges @ Coconut Barrel | Saturday (2/28) at 2:00 PM – If you’ve been waiting for a sign to finally try watercolor, let citrus season do the nudging. For $39, you get supplies, beginner tips, and a shot at painting oranges, blossoms, and leaves that look juicier than Publix ads. No experience, just curiosity.
🎨 Paint a Heart Fundraising Event @ Art Box Gallery & Studios | Saturday (2/28) at 5:00 PM – Head to Art Box Studios for a heartfelt night of painting, community, and remembering R. Scott English. You paint a heart that stays in the studio, they bring the food, pour the wine, and cue live music, materials included, suggested $25 donation, perfectionism optional.
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
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📻 St. Augustine report
Weather forecast
Today – High: 76°F – Low: 57°F – Precip: 1%
Mostly sunny. High near 76, with temperatures falling to around 73 in the afternoon. Southwest wind 7 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Later: Partly cloudy. Low around 57, with temperatures rising to around 58 overnight. Southwest wind around 7 mph.
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Tomorrow – High: 77°F – Low: 58°F – Precip: 44%
Rain showers likely after 7am. Mostly sunny. High near 77, with temperatures falling to around 71 in the afternoon. Southwest wind 6 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 16 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. Later: Rain showers likely before 7pm, then showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
This house is wild
This St. Augustine riverfront escape offers 95 feet on the Intracoastal with rare deep water access and glowing sunsets. An expanded private dock with layout netting and a boat lift powers effortless outings on the Matanzas River. Meticulously maintained spaces showcase panoramic river views, and the western exposure turns every evening into a show.
Take a peek inside →
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🔥 Worth a peek
We’re always on the hunt for useful resources, deals, services, and products we think you’ll love. Here’s what caught our eye this week.
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