Known as one of the best holiday lights displays in the world, St. Augustine’s Nights of Lights kicks off with Light Up! Night
St. Augustine, Fla. September 18, 2024 – St. Augustine’s internationally acclaimed Nights of Lights festival returns on November 23, 2024, and continues nightly through January 26, 2025. Since 1994 the city provided this festive atmosphere inspired by the Spanish tradition of displaying a white candle in windows during the Christmas holidays.
The festival kicks off with Light Up! Night on Saturday, Nov. 23, beginning at 4 p.m. and featuring music and live performances. The official lighting ceremony starts at 6:30 p.m. in the Plaza de la Constitución when a switch is flipped and more than three million white lights illuminate and outline public and private buildings, bridges, trees, and more throughout St. Augustine’s Historic District.
Whether visitors want to stroll, ride, or sail, there are many options for Nights of Lights experiences. For those comfortable on foot, the Christmas tree in the Plaza de la Constitución, Lightner Museum, and the Bridge of Lions are can’t-miss selfie spots. Ancient City Tours offers guided walking tours that include St. Augustine’s history. For a unique vantage point from above, climb 219 steps to the top of the St. Augustine Lighthouse and Maritime Museum or hop on a sightseeing flight with First City Helicopters.
For a festive tour, climb aboard Old Town Trolley’s Famous Nights of Lights Tour or Santa’s Red Express Tours. Each has a convivial atmosphere with music and fun facts. St. Augustine Land & Sea Tours offers luxury golf cart tours (in Spanish and English), while Country Carriages takes a step back in time with romantic and snuggly horse-drawn carriage tours. The Tasting Tours offers a variety of tours on horse-drawn carriages and open-air electric shuttles. Choose from an adults-only wine tour or the family-oriented Un-Merry Grinchmas Rides, Bah-Humbug Scrooge Ride, and Magical Ride with Santa.
The St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park features the annual Creatures of the Night, October 18-20, with the gates staying open l late for three nights of eerie bugs, beasts, and hands-on encounters. Get ready for treats, tricks, and fun for all ages at the World Golf Village Annual Halloween Bash on Oct. 5. Ancient City Kids Day on Saturday, Oct. 26, is a day just for the littles, with games, giveaways, bounce houses, and live entertainment.
Looking for a truly unique Halloween celebration? On Friday, Oct. 11, and Saturday, Oct. 12, The St. Augustine Ballet, presents a classic spooky experience – The Dracula Ballet! Craft a custom Sanderson sister-inspired lipstick at the Salem-inspired Hocus Pocus Beauty with Hopcraft Collective, flying in on Oct. 17. Hair bands and outrageous costumes take center stage at the 8th Annual Headless Bangers Costume Ball on Oct. 26.
Click here for accompanying Nights of Lights Images. Access Code is: NOL 2021
There are dozens of ways to explore the Nights of Lights adventures waiting in the Nation’s Oldest City. Make planning your brilliant adventure a breeze with the trip planner or the new AI Assistant on FloridasHistoricCoast.com.
Located midway between Daytona Beach and Jacksonville, Florida’s Historic Coast includes historic St. Augustine, the outstanding golf and seaside elegance of Ponte Vedra, the rural beauty of Hastings, Elkton, St. Johns, and 42 miles of pristine Atlantic beaches. Visitor Information Centers are located at 10 Castillo Drive, St. Augustine; 200 Solana Rd. Suite B, Ponte Vedra Beach: and at the St. Johns County Beach Pier Park, 350 A1A Beach Blvd., St. Augustine Beach. For advance travel information, call 1.800.653.2489 or go to the Visitors and Convention Bureau website at www.FloridasHistoricCoast.com. Check us out on social media Instagram @FloridasHistoricCoast; @ViajaStAugustine, Facebook.com/OfficialStAugustine, and Facebook.com/ViajaStAugustine and Twitter @FlHistoricCoast
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