St. Augustine's Easter Week festivities began in 1902 and have grown to include several major events, including The Blessing of the Fleet on Palm Sunday and the Easter Parade, which now takes place on the Saturday before Easter. The tradition of the Royal Family Trio began in the early 1950s to honor Queen Marianna of Spain, who first called for a masonry fort to be built to protect the young city in 1672. She and the rest of the royal family trio (King Juan Carlos and Princess Margaret Maria) are portrayed by members of Menorcan and Spanish families, who are chosen each year to commemorate the construction of the Castillo de San Marcos, which enabled the city of St. Augustine to survive in the coming centuries.
Leading up to Easter Sunday, St. Augustine's Royal Family Trio continues to preside over several heritage celebrations throughout the city, including the Royal Family Transfer of Office, the Royal Knighting Ceremony, and the Easter Promenade on Easter Sunday.
The Easter Parade continues to grow in popularity and in scope. The 2024 parade is the 64th annual, stepping off at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 30, 2024. The parade begins just north of the Mission of Nombre de Dios (27 Ocean Ave. St. Augustine, FL 32084) and heads south along San Marco Avenue and Avenida Menendez to the Plaza de la Constitución.
The Easter Parade is organized by the St. Augustine Easter Week Festival committee. It's hard to imagine a better way to spend a beautiful spring morning than sitting on a curb or lounging against a tree, watching the parade go by.Click here for information on all the St. Augustine Easter events.
This article has been updated for 2024.