St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra and The Beaches create a winter wonderland with millions of lights, ‘posadas’ celebrations and a calendar of events to experience by land and sea
ST. AUGUSTINE, Florida — Nov. 8. 2022 — When many think of the winter holidays, the images that come to mind might often include snow — and a lot of it. However, with its “Nights of Lights” festival, the northeast Florida city of St. Augustine presents another proposal: A feast of 3 million white holiday lights shining from sidewalks to rooftops, and along the iconic Bridge of Lions, illuminating approximately 144 city blocks in the St. Augustine’s famous historic district.
St. Augustine kicks off the festivities on Nov. 19, when this light show brightens the start of the holiday season. Nights of Lights, which is already in its 29th year, will shine every night through Jan. 31. Listed as one of the world’s best light displays by CNN and National Geographic, Nights of Lights is just one of many reasons to visit this destination this winter.
Once the lights are on, the celebrations continue nonstop. Also on Nov. 19, the Puerto Rican Parade and Nights of Pints beer festival are celebrated, the latter continuing until Jan. 31, as well as the Night of Luminaries, Luminaries of the Lighthouse and Christmas Parade. Visitors can shop at the local outlets and stores also take in one of the galleries or museums located in the historic area of St. Augustine.
Another holiday during this period is Thanksgiving, which was first celebrated in St. Augustine on Sept. 8, 1565 — 56 years before the renowned feast at Plymouth Plantations in Massachusetts. Visitors to what is today the Mission Nombre de Dios stand on the same ground where Pedro Menéndez and 800 other Spaniards feasted with area’s indigenous Timucuan people in the then village of Seloy. After your visit to this sacred place, enjoy a family dinner at one of St. Augustine’s many renowned restaurants, several offering international cuisine crafted by the hands of Latino chefs who have made this city their home.
On Dec. 10, St. Augustine will welcome the Regatta of Lights. This annual holiday tradition features boats decorated with displays of sparkling lights. The regatta will illuminate St. Augustine’s Matanzas Bay between the Bridge of Lions and the Castillo de San Marcos.
On Dec. 17, Christmas Night and Las Posadas at the Mission Nombre de Dios commemorates the biblical story of Joseph and Mary’s journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem. The tour starts at 5 p.m. for Las Posadas, the Living Crib and Eucharistic Adoration. (Eucharistic Adoration is not a show; people come and go during the time it is open)
Meanwhile, who could forget the beaches when visiting Florida — even amid wintertime celebrations? Ponte Vedra Beach celebrates the holiday season with its own parade of boats decorated with bright lights on the beach. This event takes place on Dec. 3.
To ring in the new year, there will be no lack of possibilities in St. Augustine, where you can enjoy a New Year’s Eve concert at The Oak; “ooh” and “aah” to the “Light Up the Night!” fireworks display on St. Augustine Beach; or the glam it up at the New Year’s Eve Gala at the Lightner Museum, an iconic event now in its 75th year.
About St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra and The Beaches
Located halfway between Daytona Beach and Jacksonville, Florida’s Historic Coast includes historic St. Augustine, the exceptional golfing and coastal elegance of Ponte Vedra Beach, and the laid-back beachside communities of Crescent Beach, St. Augustine Beach and Vilano Beach along 42 miles of beaches. For more information, visit the Visitor Info section at the website www.floridashistoriccoast.com or follow us on Facebook.com/ViajaSanAgustin.
