Ximenez-Fatio House Museum

10/10/2026

Our Trick or Treat & Harvest Festival is just two weeks away! We hope to see you there! This event is free to all, and no tickets are required!

Trick or Treat & Harvest Festival- One Month Away

Halloween is by far our favorite holiday here at the Ximenez-Fatio House Museum and we are so excited to announce the return of our FREE Community Safe Trick-or-Treating & Family Harvest Fest on Saturday, October 24th from 1pm to 4pm! Please join us for a family-friendly afternoon of safe trick-or-treating and fun activities for the whole family. This is a special community event that locals and visitors alike look forward to each year. Wear your spooky or not-so-spooky costume and play games, win prizes, and of course, collect lots of candy! This event will be held on the same day as the St. George Street Trick or Treating, so be sure you don't miss out on that incredible event as well!

No tickets are required for this event. We hope to see you there!

10/10/2026

The sunshine state has seen quite a bit of rain over the past few days, and it looks like there’s more on the way! Our cauldron in the historic garden was filled to the brim this morning after collecting all the rain that fell overnight!

10/09/2026

Important Update: Mortality & Mourning Tours Canceled Tonight

Due to expected impacts from Hurricane Isaias, tonight’s Mortality & Mourning: Women in Black tours have been canceled. Although St. Augustine is expected to be spared a direct hit from the storm, we are anticipating very heavy rain and strong winds, with downtown flooding expected to exceed 2.5 feet. The safety of our guests and staff is our top priority.

All ticket holders have been contacted, but we wanted to spread the word to anyone planning to attend tonight’s tours. Since the storm is expected to move through quickly, we currently anticipate that tours will resume as scheduled tomorrow. We’ll continue monitoring conditions and share any updates if plans change!

10/09/2026

Great American Treasures Road Trip:

Heston and Midnight are back on the road! After their stop at Wilton House in Richmond, Virginia, the cats have traveled to Mason Neck, Virginia, for their next Great American Treasure: George Mason’s Gunston Hall!

Built between 1754 and 1759 for George Mason IV, Gunston Hall was the centerpiece of a 5,500-acre plantation along the Potomac River. The home features classic Georgian architecture on the outside, with beautifully detailed Rococo, Gothic, and Chinese-inspired interiors. While living at Gunston Hall, Mason wrote the Virginia Declaration of Rights in 1776, a groundbreaking document that influenced both the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Bill of Rights. He is often remembered as the “Father of the Bill of Rights.”

Gunston Hall’s history also includes the enslaved African Americans whose labor sustained the plantation and its way of life. Today, the historic site works to explore the lives of those who lived there and the lasting impact of Mason’s ideas about liberty and individual rights.

Now a National Historic Landmark, Gunston Hall welcomes visitors to explore the mansion, gardens, reconstructed outbuildings, archaeology exhibits, and grounds along the Potomac River.

To learn more about this incredible house, click the link in our bio and select “Great American Treasures,” or visit their website.

After their time in Virginia, the cats of the Ximenez-Fatio House Museum will have a short journey to Washington DC for their next stop!

10/08/2026

This event has been postponed due to rain. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Watercolor Art Class: "Colors in the Courtyard"

Join us on October 8, 2026, from 5:30–7:30 PM for a fun and festive watercolor art class in the beautiful courtyard of our 228+ year-old museum! Led by expert watercolor artist Erin Hellman, this hands-on class will feature a Fall and Halloween theme, making it the perfect way to welcome the season with creativity and a little spooky fun. Whether you’re an experienced artist or simply looking to try something new, everyone is welcome to enjoy an evening of painting, relaxation, and seasonal inspiration. Tickets are $45 per person, with Museum Members receiving $5 off. All materials will be provided.

For tickets, please visit the link in our bio, followed by "Colors in the Courtyard," or visit https://ximenezfatiohousemuseum.ticketspice.com/colors-in-the-courtyard

10/08/2026

Here’s a look at Aviles Street, the oldest street in the nation, as St. Augustine settles in for several days of heavy rain. While the city is not expected to take a direct hit from the coming hurricane, we are expecting plenty of rainfall over the next few days! Stay dry!

10/08/2026

Happening TONIGHT! Limited tickets remain:
https://ximenezfatiohousemuseum.ticketspice.com/colors-in-the-courtyard

Watercolor Art Class: "Colors in the Courtyard"

Join us on October 8, 2026, from 5:30–7:30 PM for a fun and festive watercolor art class in the beautiful courtyard of our 228+ year-old museum! Led by expert watercolor artist Erin Hellman, this hands-on class will feature a Fall and Halloween theme, making it the perfect way to welcome the season with creativity and a little spooky fun. Whether you’re an experienced artist or simply looking to try something new, everyone is welcome to enjoy an evening of painting, relaxation, and seasonal inspiration. Tickets are $45 per person, with Museum Members receiving $5 off. All materials will be provided.

For tickets, please visit the link in our bio, followed by "Colors in the Courtyard," or visit https://ximenezfatiohousemuseum.ticketspice.com/colors-in-the-courtyard

10/08/2026

Today is Thursday, which means it's time for some throwback photos! Did you know that the building that holds our museum shop wasn't built until 2003? Based on archaeological research, we know this area had previously been home to a Seville Orange tree grove. The building was constructed to look as if it was built in 1798, the same year our museum was constructed. They succeeded so well with this design that many people take photos of the shop, thinking it's the museum!

10/08/2026

What's In Bloom: Tropical Storm Edition

10/07/2026

Did you know we have a True Crime Book Club?

The group meets on the second Tuesday of every month and dives into fascinating true crime stories, from notorious cases and serial killers to mysteries with local connections!

Some of the group’s past reads include I’ll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara, Murder in St. Augustine by Elizabeth Randall, In Cold Blood by Truman Capote, Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann, and Mindhunter by John E. Douglas and Mark Olshaker.

Interested in joining or learning more? Scan the QR code or contact Trudy Padilla at [email protected].