Top 5 things to do in the St. Augustine area this week include Blue Crab Fest, royal horses

Here we are, the last weekend of May, and it’s a three-day weekend as well. Hopefully the weather will be nice enough that you can spend some time at the beach, but just in case you want to plan other activities, we have some suggestions.

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The Blue Crab Festival is happening this weekend in Palatka.
The Blue Crab Festival is happening this weekend in Palatka.

Blue Crab Festival 2022

This festival takes place every Memorial Day weekend along the riverfront in Palatka, and this year will be from Friday, May 27, to Sunday, May 29. Included will be live bands, carnival rides, a seafood cook-off, arts and crafts, a petting zoo, reptile encounters on Saturday and Sunday and a Gatorland Waterski Show on Sunday, along with foam parties for both kids and adults.

And, of course, the highlight is the blue crab, prepared in a variety of ways. The festival takes place at 210 St. Johns Ave. in downtown Palatka. For information, call 386-983-9772 or visit palatkabluecrabfestival.com

The Royal Horses will put on a show Saturday at the St. Johns County Fairgrounds.
The Royal Horses will put on a show Saturday at the St. Johns County Fairgrounds.

Gala of the Royal Horses

This show will take place Saturday at the St. Johns County Fairgrounds in Elkton. These royal horses of Europe include the four royal breeds: Lippizzan, Andalusian, Friesian and Arabian. The gala is led by a world-renowned riding master and the event is “dedicated to showing off the amazing beauty and maneuvers these horses are capable of,” according to the website.

The exhibition is scheduled for 3-5 p.m. Saturday at the fairgrounds, 5840 State Road 207, Elkton. For information or tickets, call 361-332-6305 or visit galaoftheroyalhorses.com.

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Robert Earl Keen will give two concerts this weekend at the Ponte Vedra Concert Hall.
Robert Earl Keen will give two concerts this weekend at the Ponte Vedra Concert Hall.

Robert Earl Keen concert

It wouldn’t be a week of entertainment without at least one concert, and Robert Earl Keen will fill that bill on Saturday and Sunday with his 2022 final tour: “I’m Comin’ Home: 41 Years On the Road.” Known for his Americana style of music, Keen has the reputation in the music world as a living legend, after 21 albums and thousands of shows.

Keen will give two concerts, both at 8 p.m., on Saturday, May 28, and Sunday, May 29, at Ponte Vedra Concert Hall, 1050 A1A N., in Ponte Vedra Beach. For information or tickets, call 904-209-0399 or visit pvconcerthall.com

Bikini Kill, the feminist punk band, will perform Tuesday at the Backyard Stage at St. Augustine Amphitheatre.
Bikini Kill, the feminist punk band, will perform Tuesday at the Backyard Stage at St. Augustine Amphitheatre.

Bikini Kill concert

The second concert of the week, on Tuesday, May 31, is feminist punk band from Olympia, Washington: Bikini Kill. Known for their high-energy shows and political lyrics, the group formed in 1990, broke up in 1997 and reunited for tours in 2019. The group pioneered the Riot Grrrl movement and has encouraged girls and women to express themselves through music.

Bikini Kill will give a concert starting at 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Backyard Stage at St. Augustine Amphitheatre, 1340 A1 S. For information or tickets, visit theamp.com

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Take the family on a historical scavenger hunt around St. Augustine starting Wednesday.
Take the family on a historical scavenger hunt around St. Augustine starting Wednesday.

Self-Guided St. Augustine’s Secrets Historical Scavenger Hunt

Fun and educational at the same time, this scavenger hunt starts Wednesday, June 1, and continues through Aug. 31. It features packets for 15 different quests, and the packets include puzzles and clues you must decipher to figure out each location. For example, can you find the secret door in the Castillo de San Marcos? Each packet is geared toward two adults and their children, and all locations are accessible without having to buy additional tickets.

For information or to buy a packet, call 904-827-0807 or visit ancientcitytours.net

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This article originally appeared on St. Augustine Record: Top 5 things to do in St. Augustine: Bikini Kill, scavenger hunt