Let’s begin with the basics.

What is Nights of Lights, St. Augustine?

Nights of Lights is a display of more than 3 million white lights that adorn downtown businesses, houses of worship, hotels, parks, restaurants—and even a few choice homes along the harborfront.  Some of the city’s many historical attractions also join in the spirit.

Not that St. Augustine needed to reinforce its history—it was settled by the Spanish in 1565, more than five decades before the Pilgrims landed in Massachusetts—but Nights of Lights has earned St. Augustine a place among the nation’s Twinkliest Towns, according to Rachel Ray Magazine. It is also listed among National Geographic's Top 10 Places in the World to View Holiday Lights. (Yes, that is on all of planet Earth.)

The celebration has its roots in the traditional Spanish practice of leaving a candle in the window during the Christmas season to light the way for the infant Jesus and family. Most of the illuminations take place near Plaza de la Constitución, across from the Roman Catholic Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine, the first church in the United States established by Europeans.

When is Nights of Lights St. Augustine?

The city turned the lights on Saturday, November 15, 2025, and they will remain lit during the evenings every night through Sunday, January 11, 2026.

Is there an admission fee to Nights of Lights?

The event is one of the top holiday attractions anywhere, and it is absolutely FREE and open to everyone.

What is the best way to enjoy Nights of Lights, St. Augustine?

Enjoy a trolley ride around the Old City of St. Augustine during Nights of Lights. Photo courtesy of FloridasHistoricCoast.com

Nights of Lights is not a drive-thru event (more on traffic later) and is best enjoyed on foot, via trolley, horse-drawn carriage, or tour boat. The trolleys, carriages, and tour boats do charge for their services. Local captains also take guests on private charters. The city offers park-and-ride shuttles from three downtown locations to the Visitor Information Center, near the heart of Nights of Lights. Consider visiting during the week when crowds are lighter.

Are there special events days during Nights of Lights, St. Augustine? 

Short answer: Yes.

Popular events built around Nights of Lights include Light-Up! Night on Saturday, November 15, the official start of Nights of Lights. The Holly Jolly Shopping Spree, also on November 15, is held from 3pm to 7pm at the Old Jail Museum downtown. The Christmas Market St. Augustine runs daily from November 15 through Christmas Eve. The annual Christmas Parade, featuring floats, marching bands, cars, horses, and the arrival of Santa, is planned for Saturday, December 6 at 9am. Finally, the Holiday Regatta of Lights, an illuminated boat parade, is Saturday, December 13, beginning at 6pm.

Download the new Nights of Lights app before you go

The St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra and The Beaches Visitors and Convention Bureau recently launched an app to provide visitors and locals all the real-time information they need before they visit Nights of Lights. Search the App Store or Google Play for “St. Augustine Nights of Lights” for information on shuttles, interactive maps, directions, events listings, live music options, and more. The app includes public restroom locations and 24-7 live camera streams of St. George Street, the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument, Bridge of Lions, and Anastasia Boulevard on the east side of the Bridge of Lions.

What’s that I heard about traffic? 

There is no sugar-coating it: Vehicular traffic can be overwhelming during the celebration, particularly on weekends, and most especially on Thanksgiving weekend. Foot traffic even slows as tens of thousands of visitors flock to the downtown area. If you insist on driving, arrive well before sundown and head to the municipal garage for paid parking. Likewise, ride-share services such as Uber have difficulty navigating the downtown traffic. In short, be patient when trying to enter or leave the city.    

Where can I dine and stay during Nights of Lights, St. Augustine? 

There is no shortage of family-friendly hotels in St. Augustine. We mention a few in our rundown of the 30 best things to do with kids in the city. You can find others at www.floridashistoriccoast.com or www.visitstaugustine.com. If you prefer a less crowded place to stay, consider a hotel or condo rental in St. Augustine Beach, across the Bridge of Lions from the city. Wherever you prefer, remember that hotels fill up quickly during Nights of Lights.

St. Augustine is a culinary paradise. Owing to the city’s multiethnic history, there are family-friendly restaurants of every sort—from Spanish and Latin cuisine to Cajun, Italian, Irish pub food, and, of course, fresh seafood. See our post for some of our favorite spots for families. You won’t have to walk far to find a restaurant, but you should be prepared to wait during Nights of Lights. Make reservations well in advance if you can.

We’ve seen the lights, what else is there to do?

St. Augustine is one of the South’s most charming small cities. To stroll its cobblestone streets and view its centuries-old architecture is to be reminded of Florida’s multicultural history. Shop along St. George Street, visit the Lightner Museum for a Gilded Age retrospective, stop at Ripley’s Believe It or Not, Ponce de Leon’s Fountain of Youth, the Pirate and Treasure Museum, or Potter’s Wax Museum. Take a ghost tour through the city’s paranormal past. Again, see our rundown of the best things to do with kids in St. Augustine.