St. Johns County Parks and Recreation

10/15/2026

🐶 😺 Dress up those pets

Let's see what your furry friends are wearing for trick-or-treating this Halloween! Submit their pictures for our Howl-O-Ween Pet Costume Contest before voting happens later this month.

🐈‍⬛🐾 Howl-O-Ween starts NOW 🎃🦇

It’s time for our annual Howl-O-Ween Pet Costume Contest! To enter, post a photo of your pet in costume in the comments by Sunday, Oct. 25. Your photo can include other family members, but your pet MUST be in costume to be eligible.

Voting will be open from Oct. 26 until noon on Thursday, Oct. 29. We'll announce the winners on Friday, Oct. 30.

You must pick up your prizes in person at the Parks and Recreation Office (2175 Mizell Road, St. Augustine) by Dec. 1, 2026.

Any questions? Contact Lauren at (904) 209-0385 or [email protected] 👻

10/14/2026

🕷️ Babies on board

Happy Wildlife Wednesday from this field wolf spider (Hogna lenta) seen carrying her kids around in St. Augustine South. Those hatchlings will hang out on their mom's abdomen for up to a month before scurrying off to haunt the nightmares of unsuspecting crickets and larvae.

📸 Photo credit: Lauren Trice

Share local wildlife pictures of your own (including the general area and the animal species) in the comments; email videos to [email protected]

10/13/2026

🎣 Fun in freshwater

Here's what you'll get when you sign up for our Freshwater Fishing Class this Saturday, Oct. 17! Everything you need for a great day out on the water. We'll see you all out at Trout Creek Park (6795 Collier Road, St. Augustine) at 10 a.m.

Link in the comments!

10/13/2026

🪼 Birth of a jellyfish

You know what we love almost as much as our earthbound parks? Space! That's why we were so thrilled to see all the images of the jellyfish cloud left behind by this morning's SpaceX rocket launch. This sequence, captured by our very own Community Program Manager, shows the progress from launch to jellyfish formation as the v***r billows and catches the sunlight at dawn.

📸 Photo credit: Tess Simpson

10/12/2026

🌖 The moon and much more

UPDATE: Night Under the Stars on Oct. 16 has been canceled.

10/12/2026

🚙 Trick out your trunk

Our annual trunk-or-treating event wouldn't be any fun without all the dedicated folks who show up with their decorated trunks!

Call Tess Simpson at (904) 209-0375 or Emily Fox at (904) 827-6972 to make the 2026 Hastings Trunk-or-Treat at Al Wilke Park (6150 S. Main St.) on Oct. 24 a spooky night to remember. (Trunk-or-treating starts at 5; stick around until 7 for our Movie in the Park: Toy Story 5.)

10/11/2026

🎣 Some folks see a fishing clinic...
.. we see an opportunity 👀

Send us your favorite “outdoorsy” person for our Reel Skills: Freshwater Fishing Clinic, and just trust the process… we’ve got this.

📅 Saturday, Oct. 17
⏰ 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
🎣 Ages 12+ | $60

Watch until the end 😏

10/10/2026

😌 Well-deserved relaxation

Our programs for military veterans and first responders are on the way later this month and early next month: archery (Oct. 21), fishing (Oct. 28), and kayaking (Nov. 12).

Sign up and learn more in the comments!

10/09/2026

🐈‍⬛🐾 Howl-O-Ween starts NOW 🎃🦇

It’s time for our annual Howl-O-Ween Pet Costume Contest! To enter, post a photo of your pet in costume in the comments by Sunday, Oct. 25. Your photo can include other family members, but your pet MUST be in costume to be eligible.

Voting will be open from Oct. 26 until noon on Thursday, Oct. 29. We'll announce the winners on Friday, Oct. 30.

You must pick up your prizes in person at the Parks and Recreation Office (2175 Mizell Road, St. Augustine) by Dec. 1, 2026.

Any questions? Contact Lauren at (904) 209-0385 or [email protected] 👻

10/09/2026

🦸 Color Run volunteers, ASSEMBLE!

Volunteer for the 2026 Family Color Run 5K and help us make it a success! Duties may include:
• Handing out water
• Throwing colored powder at designated stations
• Distributing finisher medals and awards
• Assisting participants along the race route
• Providing general course support

Assignments will vary based on event needs throughout the day.

Sign up in the comments!

(Want to help out by sponsoring rather than volunteering? The St Johns County Parks Foundation and our Presenting Sponsor, First Florida Credit Union, help make this event a reality, and sponsorship opportunities are still available for the Family Color Run 5K through the Foundation.)