Castillo de San Marcos National Monument

10/24/2026

Mark your calendars! There are two more free entry days this year:
📆Tuesday, October 27th
📆Wednesday, November 11th

On these days, national park sites that charge an entry fee will waive those fees for U.S. citizens and residents. Castillo de San Marcos National Monument opens at 9:00 am, the last entry is at 5:00 pm, and the fort closes at 5:15 pm.

We look forward to seeing you in the park!

Image: Sunlight streaming through a white and red flag on top of a stone fort. NPS/C. Cardenas.

10/14/2026

Functional Fashion. Enough said. 💥

Our wool coats are not just for looks, but they are also a safety tool. During our cannon and musket firing demonstrations, our Spanish soldados can be seen wearing wool great coats.

One of their most asked questions is, “Aren’t you hot in that?” Well, sometimes! Wearing the coat helps protect reenactors from sparks or embers that might catch on their clothing while firing.

Image: A Spanish Soldier smiling in uniform. He is holding a musket with a bayonet. He is on a stone fort with a river in the background. NPS Photo.

10/10/2026

FUEGO!! We’re firing the cannons two times this month!

💥Sunday, October 11th
💥Sunday, October 25th

Demonstrations are scheduled for 10:30 AM, 11:30 AM, 1:30 PM, 2:30 PM, and 3:30 PM. These events are weather and staff permitting. Questions? Call us at (904) 829-6506.

We look forward to seeing you in the park!

Image: Ranger with a pumpkin on their head pointing out to the bay next to a cannon on top of a stone fort. NPS Photo.

10/06/2026

Good morning, Saint Augustine! 🌅

Will we see you at the fort today? We open at 9:00 am, the last entry is at 5:00 pm, and the fort closes at 5:15 pm.

We look forward to seeing you in the park!

Image: A stone fort and palm trees during a hazy sunrise. A small rainbow appears above the fort. NPS/C. Cardenas.

10/05/2026

Today’s homework: thank a teacher.

National parks are places where students can learn about history by standing where it happened, explore science by observing nature, and discover stories that help us better understand the people and places that shaped our world.

Behind those experiences are teachers helping students ask questions, make connections, and learn about the world around them.

On World Teachers’ Day, we celebrate the educators who inspire curiosity, encourage exploration and remind us that learning can happen just about anywhere. (Including places with a really good view.)

Learn more at: https://www.nps.gov/teachers/index.htm

NPS Image

10/05/2026

Every day from October 12 to November 5, 2026, visit Mission San José's granary during park hours (9am-5pm) to view the mission descendant community's family ofrendas.

Ofrendas are an essential part of Dia de los Muertos/Day of the Dead. The word ofrenda means offering in Spanish. They are also called "altares" or altars, but not for worship. These altars are not only full of family pictures, but of symbols and meaning, honoring the ancestors who have passed, and offering them items of the celebration such a "pan de mu**to" and marigold flowers.

NPS Photo

10/04/2026

“I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.” — Anne Shirley, Anne of Green Gables

And we’re rather glad there are national parks to experience them in. Fall is a great time to get outside and enjoy the spectacular spectacle (say that five times fast) of changing leaves. There is plenty of room for imagination when you find yourself surrounded by forests painted in brilliant shades of red, orange, and gold. In our experience, you can nearly always enjoy things if you make up your mind firmly that you will. So consider this your invitation to find a little wonder, a little enchantment, and perhaps a kindred spirit among the trees.

Forests, woods, and shrublands in national parks put on their autumn colors from September through December. There’s a whole world of beauty waiting to be explored!

Image 1: Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
Image 2: Great Smoky Mountains NP
Image 3: Great Sand Dunes NPP
Image 4: Rocky Mountain National Park
Image 5: TheodoreRooseveltNPS

10/03/2026

“On October 3rd, he asked what day it was.” — Cady Heron

It’s October 3rd.

October is kind of a big deal around here. The autumn months splash many national parks with a rich array of fall colors, while cooler temperatures have wildlife getting ready for winter. Some are migrating. Some are gathering food. Some are putting on extra layers.

Same, honestly.

So whether you’re here for the foliage, the wildlife, or simply to judge the leaves on their color palette, national parks are a pretty fetch place to experience fall. Fetch? We’re making it happen.

And if you want to keep up with what’s happening in parks this season, you can find more ways to connect with your national parks at the link below.
https://www.nps.gov/subjects/npscelebrates/fall-season.htm

Image: Red Osier Dogwood leaves stand out against aspen trunks at Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. NPS/Patrick Myers

10/03/2026

Will we see you TODAY at 10 am at the Waterworks for the Volunteer Fair? We'll be there until 2 pm!

The Volunteer Fair will also feature some of Saint Augustine’s other premiere historic sites including Fort Matanzas National Monument, Fort Mose Historic State Park, the St. Augustine Lighthouse, the Lightner Museum, the Lincolnville Museum, AND MORE! This event is free.

Bring history to life. Join us!

Image: A collage featuring volunteers in a variety of jobs including firing cannons, pulling invasive plants, and staffing the visitor center. NPS Photo.

10/02/2026

10/02/2026

Wherever military life takes you, there’s likely a park adventure nearby.

Active-duty military members, Veterans, and Gold Star families can get a free America the Beautiful Pass, providing access to national parks and federal recreation sites across the country.

Active-duty military families can also find free events, nearby outdoor opportunities, and resources for exploring national parks, public lands, and waterways through the Military Families Outdoors Program, wherever military life takes them. Visit: go.nps.gov/mfo

Whether you’re PCSing, exploring near your duty station, or looking for a weekend adventure, your next park visit may be closer than you think.

NPS Photo: Rangers at Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park recently teamed up with Blue Star Families and community partners for a day of fishing, outdoor fun, and family time at Fletchers Cove.

Blue Star Families Defense Public Health

10/01/2026

Fat Bear Week has officially lumbered to a close.

What a week. As they say, a journey of roughly 3,000 to 4,500 calories begins with a single salmon. Something like that. There might be some steps involved too.

In the end, 16 bears entered. Bear 89 “Backpack” became champion. Talk about the hunger games. And several ate their way into our hearts. Figuratively. And thousands of us humans spent an unreasonable amount of time judging bears for being excellent at being, well, bears.

It was a week of big bellies, bigger appetites, and absolutely no regrets. We shared some science, learned about the Alaskan ecosystem, stood around for hours watching large mammals eat, and found multiple way to incorporate “chonk” in everyday vocabulary.

Now the bears have more important things to do, such as eating then sleeping, a bit more eating, sleeping, and finally preparing to sleep after eating. As for the rest of us, we all return to our regularly scheduled programming.

Must we?

We must.

We will miss you, Fat Bear Week. Until next year: stay chunky, stay hungry, and remember: there’s always room for one more salmon.

NPS Images

10/01/2026

10/01/2026

Now that Fat Bear Week is over, it's time for Chunky Puppy Day! Tune in to the Puppy Cam tomorrow, Thursday, October 1, at 2pm AK time to find out how big the America's Best Idea litter got this summer.

How much do you think they weigh now? Share your guesses in the comments below.

NPS Photo: Graupel from the Weather litter during a weigh-in last year.

10/01/2026

“How are you, Ranger Jack-o-Lantern?”

I’m vine, thank you for asking.

🎃 Are you carving out some time for a trip to the park this fall? The park opens at 9:00 am, the last entry is at 5:00 pm, and the park closes at 5:15 pm.
🎟️Admission is valid for 7 consecutive days. It would be a gourd idea to hold on to your receipt and the card you paid with for re-entry.
🍁Don't fall for this cooler weather; stay hydrated! We have bottle filling stations located within the fort. It’s still hot in Florida!
☎️ Still have questions? We’ll squash them! Give us a call at (904) 829-6506 or visit our website: www.nps.gov/CASA.

Image: Ranger with a pumpkin head posing next to a cannon on top of a stone fort. Ranger is wearing the green and gray uniform, with a partly cloudy sky and blue water behind them. NPS Photo.

09/30/2026

This is the ideal marmot body. You may not like it. You may not understand it. But this is what peak performance looks like.

Now that Fat Bear Week is over, we’re returning to our regularly scheduled programming: other fat mammals.

The tundra-dwelling yellow-bellied marmots have been preparing for hibernation for the last couple of months. Since marmots spend more than half their lives hibernating, they’ve developed some impressive adaptations for surviving the winter:

✅ First, they’ve been building up healthy fat reserves (sound familiar? Bears. Us too, but that’s another post) to sustain them for up to eight months. Basically, a nice winter savings account.

✅ When they finally enter hibernation, they become true hibernators, slowing their heart rate from around 200 beats per minute to as low as 30. It’s an impressive energy-saving strategy.

✅ Speaking of saving, they also save on utilities by cuddling up with the colony in a communal burrow. Because heating is expensive, and roommates are the answer. Was that on the lease?

NPS Photo: A rotund marmot standing on a rock at Rocky Mountain National Park

09/30/2026

Join us at the Waterworks on Saturday, October 3rd to learn more about volunteer opportunities in Saint Augustine! This event starts at 10 am and will conclude at 4 pm.

The Volunteer Fair will also feature some of Saint Augustine’s other premiere historic sites including Fort Matanzas National Monument, Fort Mose Historic State Park, the St. Augustine Lighthouse, the Lightner Museum, the Lincolnville Museum, AND MORE! This event is free.

Bring history to life. Join us!

Image: Two reenactors portraying Spanish soldiers outside of a stone fort. NPS/C. Cardenas.

09/26/2026

Have you earned your Junior Ranger badge?

We share a booklet with Fort Matanzas National Monument! If you complete all the activities in the book, and visit both parks, you can earn a special patch, too.

Visit either the Castillo de San Marcos or Fort Matanzas to get started!

Image: A collage featuring our junior ranger booklet, pencils, badge and patch. All are labeled with "Castillo de San Marcos." NPS/C. Cardenas.

09/24/2026

Hope to see a cannon demonstration during your visit? We’ll be firing on the following upcoming dates:

💥Sunday, September 27th
💥Sunday, October 11th
💥Sunday, October 25th

On these dates, demonstrations are scheduled for 10:30 AM, 11:30 AM, 1:30 PM, 2:30 PM, and 3:30 PM. These events are weather and staff permitting. Questions? Call us at (904) 829-6506.

We look forward to seeing you in the park!

Image: Reenactors fire a cannon from the top of a stone fort. NPS Photo.

09/22/2026

Have you noticed the new trees on the grounds of the Castillo de San Marcos?

Over the last 100 years, the many trees on the park grounds have been battered by storms. Recently, we planted new trees! The variety of elms, cedars, palms and oaks will provide shade for years to come.

Image 1: Looking north, new trees planted outside of a stone fort on a clear day. NPS/C. Cardenas.
Image 2: Looking east, new trees planted outside of a stone fort on a clear day. NPS/C. Cardenas.