Florida’s First Coast has a good reputation for first class theater and performing arts, even though it could be argued that our local area has a secret some in the theatre and entertainment world recognize as an arts district on the rise, and with good reason.

Beneath its beautiful beaches and scenic landscapes that have been the staple of what many consider “old Florida,” the First Coast is home to a flourishing performing arts scene that many artists of all genres see as a formidable force to be reckoned with, especially when compared to its nearby metropolitan counterparts, Jacksonville, and Orlando.

On the performance front, one might be quick to mention the St. Augustine Amphitheatre, which brings hundreds of concerts and events to its unique space that features multiple venues to accommodate any acts with different audience sizes. Some acts even choose to skip the larger city dates and perform in St. Augustine instead, a testament to the draw the city has for artists. In 2023, premiere artists such as the Killers, Willie Nelson, Counting Crows, Robert Plant and Allison Krauss, Pitbull, Kane Brown, John Fogerty and Peter Frampton will all grace the stage of the coastal theater, drawing crowds from not only St. Augustine but also surrounding areas. Downtown St. Augustine itself plays a great backdrop to the large venue, with dozens of local music venues, restaurants and community theaters that host a variety of shows on a nightly basis.

Just south of St. Augustine, in Palm Coast, Florida, the Flagler Auditorium maintains its own storied history. Starting first as what was envisioned to merely be a high school auditorium in 1992, the school board at the time, headed by the efforts of member Dennis Fitzgerald (for whom the building is now named), planned to aim much higher – bringing a large-scale entertainment venue to Flagler County that could both entertain audiences while also providing a performance space, rehearsal area and classroom setup for students. Students from across the community perform monthly at the venue while also assisting in running the technical aspects of national shows, a winning formula that benefits not only the students but also the community at large, according to Flagler Auditorium Director Amelia Fulmer.

“We have over a thousand kids a month perform at this performing arts center, and we have over a hundred events per year,” Fulmer says. “All of our shows have riders, and we have to make sure that we have all the equipment here, which benefits not only the community but also our children.”

The auditorium also operates as a 501(c)3, which bolsters the efforts of community students, artists, and teachers in the performing arts. The recent 2022-2023 season saw performances from a variety of national and international acts from music, comedy, and dance to renowned tribute acts of some of the most successful bands of the last century, including Fleetwood Mac and others. It is perhaps the venue’s ability to wear many hats in the community that is the most intriguing performance of all.

While these two powerhouse venues certainly carry what can easily be considered the most reach and biggest audiences in the area, the St. Johns and Flagler County areas are also home to bustling small venues from comedy clubs and theater arts to small live music venues, where residents and visitors can find performances any night of the week.

The First Coast will never be New York or Las Vegas, but when observing the artistic endeavors on the rise in our area, the arts and entertainment options are on a fantastic trajectory!