March 5-7: Searle's Raid, Matanzas Living History Day Firing
This annual event commemorates the bloody pirate raid led by Robert Searle (AKA John Davis) against the city and inhabitants of St. Augustine in 1668. Encampment setup for participants will take place on Friday afternoon, March 5. During the day on Saturday, March 6, 17th century weapons, clothing, equipment, camp life and cuisine will be shown and demonstrated to and for the general public, and rehearsals and drills of opposing forces will take place from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; the freebooters and the city's Spanish defenders will join in battle in St. Augustine's downtown historic district beginning at 5:00 in the afternoon. The encampment will be taken down on Sunday, March 7. Additional details will be provided as the event nears.