America’s oldest city, St. Augustine, Fla., is turning 450 years old, and Graham Media’s independent, WJXT, in Jacksonville is helping the city celebrate in style. Tonight, WJXT presents 450 Years: St. Augustine Birthday, a music festival live from the heart of the city. Sunday night at 7, WJXT airs special programming as part of the St. Augustine’s […]
America’s oldest city, St. Augustine, Fla., is turning 450 years old, and Graham Media’s independent, WJXT, in Jacksonville is helping the city celebrate in style.
Tonight, WJXT presents 450 Years: St. Augustine Birthday, a music festival live from the heart of the city.
Sunday night at 7, WJXT airs special programming as part of the St. Augustine’s 450th birthday celebration. The Journey tells the little known true story of the first African Americans to reach the new world — not as slaves but as free men.
At 7:30, WJXT offers Travel Thru History Florida: St. Augustine, a look at the culture, geography, food and architecture of many Florida destinations including St. Augustine.
Tuesday, Sept. 8, WJXT begins with live coverage of a reenactment of Pedro Menendez’s landing. Pedro Menendez came ashore at St. Augustine on Sept. 9, 1565, establishing the first permanently occupied territory in what would become the United States.
Following the reenactment, WJXT will cover the procession to the Cathedral Basilica. There coverage culminates with a mass celebrated by Pope Francis’ hand-picked representative, Cardinal Seàn Patrick O’Malley.
In addition to these live televised events, WJXT will have extended coverage all week of St. Augustine’s 450th birthday celebration in its morning and 10 p.m. newscasts.
“We started planning this project over 18 months ago,” said Bob Ellis, WJXT’s general manager, “and our team has uncovered little known facts about the fascinating events leading up to the voyage and landing. I think our viewers will see right away how important North Florida really is in the history of this country.”
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