St. Augustine Nights of Lights: The Ultimate Guide to this Stunning Event

The St. Augustine Nights of Lights is one of the largest holiday celebrations in all of Florida. The entire historic district gets illuminated will millions of lights during this annual event. One of my favorite memories from my days at Flagler College was strolling the blocks around campus checking out all of the stunning white lights.

The event has been chosen by National Geographic as one of the 10 Dazzling Holiday Lighting Displays in the World on multiple occasions. Since this is such a huge event, it’s always rather crowded- especially on weekend. To get the most out of the St. Augustine Nights of Lights, you’ll want to plan ahead. Our Ultimate Guide to St. Augustine Nights of Lights will help you map out the perfect experience!

The event runs from the Saturday before Thanksgiving until the end of January each year. During this time, the businesses stay open later and the local tour companies offer seasons tours.

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St. Augustine Nights of Lights in a Nutshell

If you have never been to St. Augustine, you are truly missing out. This quaint town in northeast Florida is the quintessential historical town. It comes complete with cobblestone streets and historical landmarks such as Castillo de San Marcos and the Oldest School House and ornate squares.

The historic district has narrow streets lined with top-notch restaurants, shops, and museums such as the St. Augustine Pirate Museum and the Lightner Museum. It is also home to my alma mater, Flagler College. The beauty of this city is amplified with light displaces and Christmas decorations that makes St. Augustine Nights of Lights unlike any other.

Glowing white lights illuminate the entire historic district adding to the magic of this small town. The St. Augustine Nights of Lights was inspired by the traditional Spanish practice of displaying candles in windows during the Christmas holidays.

People flock from all over northeast Florida, and other parts of the world, to see the St. Augustine Nights of Lights. Plan on it being quite congested- especially around the areas of St. George Street, Flagler College, Plaza de la Constitución, and the Lightner Museum. The crowds can also make it difficult to navigate the streets and find parking.

Ways to enjoy the St. Augustine Nights of Lights

There are many ways to experience the St. Augustine Nights of Lights. You can see it by car, trolley, boat, or on foot. No matter which way you choose, you’ll have a magical evening!

On Foot

One of the best ways to experience the St. Augustine Nights of Lights is on foot. We suggest staying in one of the many hotels in the historical area. Another option is to Uber into the historic district early in the afternoon when there is less traffic, or score a parking spot with your on vehicle and remain there throughout the afternoon.

We suggest the following route: Flagler College, the Lightner Museum, Cordova Street, Treasury Street, St. George Street (up to the Old City Gates), and walking back down the waterfront towards the Bridge of Lions past Plaza de la Constitucion, Casa Monica Resort, and back to Flagler College.

Orange Street, near the Old City Gates, is also a notable side street.

By Car

Another way to experience the St. Augustine Nights of Lights is by car. Traffic is crazy- you’ll have to dodge cars, bikes, pedicabs, trains, trolleys, pedestrians, electric vehicles, horse drawn carriages, etc. The streets with the best lights include King Street, Cathedral Place, Cordova Street, San Marco Avenue, and Avenida Menendez.

The nearby historic neighborhood of Lincolnville also has some great light displays.

Via Tour

There are several different tours that you can book to enjoy the St. Augustine Nights of Lights, as well. The most popular are the trolley tours that allow you to hop on and hop off. You can choose from Ripley’s Red Trains or Old Town Trolley’s. Both tours take similar routes around the historic district. It’s important to note that during the busy weekends, lines to participate in these tours be as long as 2 hours.

Another unique way to enjoy the St. Augustine Nights of Lights is via a boat tour. Believe it or not, St. Augustine is even more beautiful from the water! Although you won’t get to see as many of the lights from the boat, it’s a fun way to celebrate the season.

To make the event even more magical, you can see it from a horse drawn carriage.

Know Before You Go

The evening temperatures in December typically range between the 40s and low 60s.
The lights come on at 5:30 every evening.
The event goes from the Saturday before Thanksgiving until the end of January every year.
Parking in the historic district can be a challenge. Plan on arriving in the area mid-day, parking your car and leaving it there. Parking can be found for $15/day in may places. Consider parking at the parking garage near the Visitor Information Center.
Bars and restaurants in the area get crowded and most places do not take reservations. Plan on eating early.
If you want to book a tour or a hotel room, do so early as they tend to fill up/sell out quickly.
Consider visiting in January to avoid the crowds.
Don’t miss the Lightner Museum, Flagler College, and the waterfront!