Reenactment of D. Pedro Menéndez de Avilés’ Muster
This is a historical reenactment that takes place in Avilés, Asturias. It commemorates the recruitment process organized by the sailor Pedro Menéndez de Avilés in the 16th century. His mission was to colonize La Florida, according to the Capitulaciones agreed with King Philip II.
The reenactment evokes when Avilés was the departure point for the great expedition. King Philip II entrusted Menéndez with expelling French colonists and establishing a Spanish presence. This culminated in the founding of San Agustín in 1565, the first permanent European settlement in the United States.
The central act is the reenactment of the recruitment for La Florida. It shows the need to enlist artisans, farmers, sailors, and clergy for colonization. It also depicts life in the 16th century through encounters with the town’s guilds.
The program includes parades with extras dressed in period costumes. Theater performances take place in various points of the town, staging Menéndez’s meetings with the population. Renaissance dances and music can be seen.
One of the most notable scenes is the first Thanksgiving Dinner. It commemorates the banquet that Menéndez offered to the indigenous people in gratitude. The celebration concludes with a fraternity meal for all participants.
This festival seeks to remember Avilés’ historical past and honor the figure of its illustrious son. It promotes citizen participation and cultural dissemination. The event combines education and entertainment to relive a fundamental episode.