Since 1966, Northeast Floridians have gathered every year the weekend after Thanksgiving for the Art & Craft Festival, presented by the St. Augustine Art Association. Over the years, it has grown to be regarded by art enthusiasts, artists and collectors to be one of the year’s premier art festivals.

This year’s festival will be on Saturday and Sunday, November 30 and December 1 at Francis Field. More than 130 artists are expected to feature their work, including paintings, pottery, jewelry and apparel, glassware, sculptures, woodwork and fiber art, photography, mixed media, fine hand-crafted creations and just about anything local artists can dream up.

Forget Black Friday! This is the place to buy truly unique gifts for everyone on your Christmas list andsupport local artists.

This year’s event will also feature more festival fun:

  • Demonstrations: Artisan demos will include weaving, basket-making and spinning using colonial era techniques. Other artist demos will teach the art of metalworking, stained glass, clay pottery, photography, jewelry-making, calligraphy and more.
 
 
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Each year, historic St. Augustine is awash with a sea of twinkling lights, millions of them from the streets to the rooftops. National Geographic has even listed it among the top ten holiday light displays in the world.

The 26thAnnual Nights of Lights begins this Saturday, November 23, and continues nightly through February 2, 2020. The first night, aptly named Light-Up Night, is sure to attract a huge crowd with live holiday music in the Plaza de la Constitución and an elaborate lighting ceremony at 6:30 p.m.

Since its such a big deal, it’s a huge draw for tourists and locals alike. So, we’ve pinpointed some of the best ways to see the Nights of Lights without all the stress of weaving through crowds.

1.) Head across the water –The Bridge of Lions (by itself one of the historic district’s most beautiful sights) is a great place to get a panoramic view of the lights. Park on the other side of the bridge (near Edgewater Inn or Marker 8 Hotel) and enjoy the great photo opportunities as you take a relaxing stroll over the bridge into the historic district.

2.) Hop aboard a trolley –If you have young kids or older family members who may find the excessive walking a challenge, opt for a trolley ride. Skip the line by reserving online, which is easy at most trolley companies like Old Town Trolleyor Ripley’s Big Red Christmas Train Nights of Lights Tour.

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With the bustle of the approaching holidays, it is easy to look to convenient retailers for finding gifts and holiday home décor. Spend a couple hours on Amazon.com or an afternoon at Town Center and you’ve knocked out half your Christmas list—video game for your nephew, AirPods for your sister and gift cards for your friends. While generous, these gifts aren’t really thoughtful.

But there is a solution! The 7th Annual Holiday Craft & Vendor Event is coming to World Golf Village this Sunday, November 17, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This is the perfect place to find gifts that are refreshingly creative, fun, beautiful, handmade, and from the heart by local businesses and artisans!

The free event will feature more than 130 vendors in the gigantic conference facility at Renaissance Resort in World Golf Village. Peruse vendors offering home décor, soaps and fragrances, clothing and accessories, apothecary oils and lotions, jewelry, plants, stationary, beauty products and cosmetics, hair products, candies, baked goods, books, art, pet products, kitchen ware and more. You will be surprised at how many times you’ll stop and say, “Hey, that would be a perfect gift for (insert name)!”

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It’s finally autumn in Northeast Florida and that means two things: Everything is pumpkin spice flavored and it’s time for fall festivals!

Everyone is invited to the Markland community this Saturday, November 9, for the Annual Fall Festival at Markland! Markland residents, families, friends and anyone seeking autumn time fun is welcome to attend the free event, which lasts from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Enjoy crafts, face painting, carnival games, a balloon artist, bounce houses and slides, food trucks, live music, local vendors and much more. Also participate in the charity silent auction!

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