The event, 2026 St. Augustine Colonial Night Watch,” will be held on Friday, December 4th and Saturday, December 5th at The Oldest house Museum. Period camping will be on site. Set up: Thursday, December 3rd after 12 noon. Public days will be Friday, December 4th and Saturday, December 5th from 10am to 4pm. Break down will be Sunday, December 6th. Scheduled presentations will be Saturday, December 5th from 11am to 3pm. Torch Light parade will be from the Visitor’s Information Center, through the City Gates down St. George St. to the Governor’s House.
Here you will find your registration forms for the event. If you are planning to participate, please fill out the forms completely and return them to Saint Augustine Garrison promptly. Paper Forms must be received by November 15th to guarantee participation. Upon arrival at the Colonial Quarter, please check in at registration at the Colonial Quarter before setting up camp.
Contact Information:
Saint Augustine Spanish Garrison
P.O. Box 722
Saint Augustine, FL 32085
Email: Nightwatch
Participation Guidelines
The encampment will be centered on the recreation of the years 1739 through 1785 when Spanish forces and their allies as well as British forces and their allies would have been present in St. Augustine. We request that you change to 18th-century dress as soon as your camp is set up and remain in the proper dress when in camp/area. We also request that your camp remain in the 18th century at all times on Saturday, even if there are no spectators present. Eastern Frontier civilians and Eastern Indians are also invited to participate. Children should be age-appropriately attired for this period as well. The following attire is not permissible in the camp/area: modern calico, modern shoes (unless medically necessary), sunglasses, modern jewelry, or cigarettes.
Camp Gear: Overnight camping will be available at the Oldest House Museum. We ask that only tents be set up first to ensure that we can fit as many as want to camp in. We will entertain the idea of putting up flys after we are sure that all those who had registered as campers have been accommodated. No modern tents, please. All non-18th-century items should be kept out of sight at all times. This includes, but is not limited to, sleeping bags, coolers, modern food containers, and cooking items. All food and drinks should be stored in period-correct containers when in sight of the public. If you need supplies from outside the camping areas, such as food, drinks, etc., please bring a period-correct tote/basket/wagon to bring them into camp. Alcohol is not permitted.
Cooking & Eating Utensils: All cooking and eating utensils must be 18th-century style. No speckleware or aluminum is allowed.
Vehicles: Vehicle can access The Oldest House via the Bridge St entrance.
Site Supplies: Restroom facilities are available on site. Cooking is permitted on site in above fire pits only.
Sutlers: Sutlers are available on a first-come, first-served basis, as space is limited.
Parade Rules: The following rules exist for the parade.
• A parent or guardian must accompany children.
• Wheeled vehicles (carts, buggies, etc.) will be allowed in the parade. All wheeled vehicles must be period correct.
• The Garrison reserves the right to exclude your participation in the living history portion of the parade if you are not properly attired. In this case, you would be more than welcome to walk with the public.
Daily Agenda: Set-up will start on Thursday after 12 noon. and Friday,before 10 a.m. and after 4 p.m. After unloading gear in The Oldest House Museum, off site parking will be available. The Participant schedule begins with registration at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday in the Colonial Quarte. For the public, programs in the Colonial Quarter begin at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday and end at 5 p.m. The torchlight parade begins at the Visitor Information Center on Saturday at 7:00 p.m., terminating at the Governor’s House at 48 King Street and St. George Street. Anyone arriving to set up camp/area on Saturday is asked to please arrive early enough to have your camp/area set up by 9:30 a.m.
Jollification: Will be held at the Oldest House Museum after the Torch Light Parade. Donations of food or money will be accepted toward Jollification.
Reminders: Remember to remove the “little” items. Nail polish, make-up, watches, rings, gold chains, and modern eyeglasses should be removed to make your appearance more authentic to the period being portrayed. You may take pictures! However, please remember to carry your camera in your period-correct tote bag when not in use.
Print your Schedule HERE
Safety Regulations
Weapons check will be in the Colonial Quarter starting at 8:30 am Saturday. HFM staff will provide rolled cartridges for your use at the 7 p.m. Volley of Joy. You may use your cartridges for the Colonial Quarter demonstration. No activities will take place on the NPS property.
Safety Officer: The safety officer’s duties include:
• Ensuring that all weapons are safe to fire (including flash guards and frizzen covers on all guns which allow them)
• That all powder is contained and utilized properly
• That all powder and weapons are stored properly when not in use. No weapon will remain loaded when not in use.
The following safety rules will apply at all times:
• The safety officer will ensure that all rules and regulations are being followed without exception.
• Live rounds (with balls) are NOT permitted!
• No live round, cartridges, balls, or any other device may be placed in the barrel or discharged from any barrel or device. Only the appropriate powder charge may be placed in a barrel for discharge.
• All firing must be elevated above personnel.
• No charged weapon will be given to a member of the public.
• All edged weapons must remain sheathed and will not be unsheathed for any reason except use in a scenario, i.e., officers using their swords to give orders or to direct fire or showing the public how a bayonet fits on a barrel.
• Cannon crews shall have at a minimum, three people, one of whom must be certified in artillery practice.
• There will be no hand-to-hand combat unless pre-specified at Officers Call as part of a scenario.
• No one shall fire a weapon or use an edged weapon after drinking alcohol.
• No charged weapon or device, as well as powder, shall be unattended.
• Guns, knives, bayonets, and swords must not be unattended. When not in use, these items should be stored securely.
Registration
PDF Registration Form for Colonial Night Watch
