St Augustine Amphitheatre Information
The St Augustine Amphitheatre is beautifully located in the heart of Florida and was initially built on the Anastasia State Park. It can seat up to 3,493 persons.
St Augustine
The venue is steeped in history, built in 1965 to commemorate St Augustine 400th Anniversary. He was a Latin philosopher and theologian from Roman Africa. The land was originally part of Anastasia State Park. The amphitheatre itself was constructed in one of the old coquina quarries used to supply building materials for St. Augustine and the Castillo de San Marcos.
Pulitzer Prize winning Paul Green was commissioned to write a play for the Amphitheater. For 30 years the play named Cross and Sword: A Symphonic Drama of the Spanish Settlement of Florida ran, which was a musical reenactment of the first years of St. Augustine’s existence.
In 2002 the venue underwent a 8.7 million dollar renovation modernizing the facilities, seating and outdoor areas. It was reopened in 2007 with an included a fiberglass tensile canopy over the main stage.
St. Augustine Amphitheatre was originally built in 1965 for the singular purpose of hosting an outdoor drama by Pulitzer-prize-winning playwright, Paul Green. Although classical drama runs through its veins, the modern-day venue has shifted towards global tours and special events, such as the SAFF.
Nowadays, St. Augustine Amphitheatre hosts the best live music in St. Johns County. An impressive line-up of solo artists and bands have graced the main stage, including Bob Dylan, John Legend, Alice Cooper, Weezer, Imagine Dragons, Alice in Chains, and more.
The Amp also participates in the Sing Out Loud Festival every September, which is a multi-day event spanning venues across St. Augustine. The city comes alive with showcases from local artists, music workshops, and record fairs. The ampitheater itself hosts the pièce de résistance – a space for world-class talent to perform for tens of thousands of guests. Incredibly, most of the events are totally free.
As for amenities, the theater boasts plenty of concession stands in the main plaza, covered seating, and parking. Everything you need is conveniently located in one place, so you don’t have to search far and wide for refreshments or restrooms. The mouth-watering speciality cocktails are especially welcome in the hot and humid Florida sun!
The History of St Augustine Amphitheatre
Although relatively new, having been built in 1965, St. Augustine Amphitheatre is a cultural hub for the residents of St. Augustine, St. Johns County, and the whole of Florida. Over the decades, the venue has evolved from hosting local dramas and plays to global live music tours.
The ampitheater itself is located in one of the old coquina quarries in St. Augustine – the oldest city in the United States. These quarries supplied the materials for many of the surrounding buildings, including the neighboring Castillo de San Marcos.
Another interesting fact about the ampitheater is the story behind its conception. Its original purpose was to commemorate the award-winning playwright, Paul Green. The main stage hosted his symphonic outdoor drama “Cross and Sword”, which told the story of Pedro Menendez de Aviles – the brave Spanish explorer who founded the city. Budget constraints eventually brought the play’s commendable 30-year run to an end in 1996.
The following years were relatively quiet, besides the odd festival here and there. The private owners couldn’t invest in the building, so it sat sad and unused, full of wasted potential. Everything changed in 2002 when St. Johns County finally acquired the property and began a highly ambitious $8.7 million renovation.
Nowadays, The Amp is consistently ranked as one of the best ampitheaters in the world. Alongside a never-ending program of famous musicians and bands, guests can enjoy regular markets, annual festivals, and handmade arts and crafts fairs.