Nights of Lights St Augustine 2023: Dazzle Your Way Through the Holidays!
Journey to an unparalleled winter wonderland this Christmas season with a trip to St. Augustine! What they might be lacking in snow and ice, they make up for in lights, lights, and more lights!
Nights of Lights St Augustine is a highly anticipated annual event for both local Floridians and out-of-state visitors alike. As dusk settles over the Nation’s Oldest City, fairy lights wink to life in the dusk, illuminating every historic nook and cranny with holiday splendor.
Don’t just take our word for it, though – National Geographic has listed Nights of Lights among the top ten holiday light displays in the world.1
Here’s everything you need to know about making this Christmas your brightest one yet!
Nights of Lights St Augustine
Nights of Lights will be proudly glowing every evening from November 18, 2023, to January 31, 2024.
At 6:00 p.m. on November 18th, there will be a special “Light Up! Night” kick-off event, providing a bright start to the seasonal festivities. Whether you stop by for the opening night or simply pop in during the following weeks, every night is a truly enchanting spectacle straight from a fairy tale. And the best part? It’s FREE for you and your family to enjoy!
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Three million twinkling lights will encompass roughly 20 blocks of the historic district. Every corner becomes a gorgeous backdrop, but there are a few key places you’ll want to check out for the best views of all. This year’s Christmas card photos are going to shine!
The Plaza de la Constitución is the heart of the action with its beautiful gazebo and centerpiece Christmas tree. There are even lights strung up on the “regular” plaza trees for a forest of glowing fun.
You’ll also want to walk along the sidewalks on the Bridge of Lions. From here, you’ll get a panoramic view of the bayfront, where you can take in all of the illuminated buildings and treetops, as well as their rippling reflections below.
(Photo: Eric Friedebach via Flickr)
Feeling really adventurous? Enjoy Nights of Lights out on the water! Book an evening cruise with a charter company like Florida Water Tours for pontoon or yacht tours of the festivities. This is a unique and often quieter way to enjoy St. Augustine’s prestigious festival of lights. You can also take a trolley or train tour of the decorated downtown or simply conquer St. Augustine on foot! (But please don’t literally conquer St. Augustine – they’ve had enough trouble with pirates in the past five centuries.)
The Lightner Museum and Flagler College, which are impressive buildings all on their own, will also be dressed to the nines and glittering with the historic holiday ambiance.
Let There Be Light!
Celebrating its 30th year, Nights of Lights is becoming a true St. Augustinian icon, just like the Castillo de San Marcos or the St. Augustine lighthouse.
The origin of the tradition can be traced back to the old Spanish practice of placing white candles in window sills at Christmas; this seemingly small gesture is rich with symbolism, exhibiting the desire to make room in one’s home and heart for Jesus, a stark contrast from Mary and Joseph’s futile search for an inn on the night Christ was born.2
Today, St. Augustine lights up their entire town with welcoming white lights. It transforms winter from the darkest time of year to the most beautiful! It also helps the local businesses to prosper, giving them reason to stay open past the usual 5:00 p.m. closing time.
Grabbing a bite to eat from a local eatery, or even something as simple as a cup of hot cocoa, is a great way to round out your personal night of lights!
Illuminating Tips for Nights of Lights
Nights of Lights is an incredibly popular event, which means it pays to be strategic if you’re planning to stop by and enjoy the light show. Here are our tips on how to achieve a smooth and sensational evening!
Arrive Early
No matter what night you choose to visit, arriving early will help you avoid a major headache in terms of parking. Nab a spot in the parking garage near the Visitor Information Center ($15.00) or be ready to swing into one of the metered spaces on the street that are free after 5:00 p.m.3
Not only does this help with parking, but you can also get a good spot in line for trolley and train tours!
Use the Nights of Lights Shuttle
While arriving early may help mitigate a lot of parking stress, if you’d like to do away with it entirely, then we recommend taking the Nights of Lights shuttle! The FREE Park & Ride shuttle service is available on select “peak” nights. Simply park your car at one of the designated satellite locations, then let a shuttle handle the rest!
Shuttle Dates
November: 18, 24, 25
December: 2, 9, 16, 26-30
Try for Midweek
The shuttle is great for getting around the stress of transportation, but you’ll still have to navigate the crowds once you’re back on foot. However, if you don’t mind sacrificing the shuttle service, going during the week really cuts down on the crowd! (Which, in turn, also makes the shuttle service less necessary.)
Less of a crowd means shorter wait times for tours and restaurants, as well as an easier time with those coveted photo ops. Additionally, if you happen to be staying in St. Augustine, hotel rates are generally cheaper during the week, too!
Take Photos at Sunset
The best time for a Nights of Lights photoshoot is right around sunset! While there are plenty of amazing after-dark shots for folks with steady hands and good cameras, “Golden Hour” provides great photos, guaranteed!
Whether you choose to visit around Thanksgiving, Christmas, or stretch the holiday cheer out into January, the Nights of Lights celebration in St. Augustine is absolutely phenomenal – in fact, we’d call it a must-see for any wintertime Florida vacationers!
Have you been to the St Augustine Nights of Lights? What was your favorite vantage point? Did you stop at any local eateries? We’d love to hear about your experience in the comments below!
And may all your Christmases be bright!
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