Nights of Lights St Augustine, Florida

The City of St Augustine boasts to be the oldest city in the United States. The popular Christmas event known as the Nights of Lights is fairly new. The event started in the early 1990s and became one of the most recognized light displays during the holidays. The current Nights of Lights may seem only a few decades old but its roots go back a few centuries before the invention of electricity. The Spanish who were alongside the native Indians were the founders and occupants of St Augustine. During Christmas time, the Spanish would light and display a white candle on their windows as a welcoming gesture to their guests. The placing of white candles in the windows is considered to be the origin of the Festival Lights in St Augustine, Florida.

When is the Festival of Lights

The Festival of Lights starts on November 19th and continues until January 31st. There are over 3 million lights displayed by the City of St Augustine and Business Owners. During the Festival of Lights, the businesses stay open later than their normal work schedule to allow more visitors to enjoy this extraordinary event.

Best Places to See Festival of Lights

The Festival of Lights covers a large area starting Downtown St Augustine along the Plaza De La Constitucion is the best place to start your tour. You can continue your Festival of Lights Tour by visiting St Augustine Waterfront, Lightner Building, and Flagler College. The best places to see the Festival of Lights in St Augustine are as follows:

  • The Bridge of Lions – The bridge is designed to facilitate car traffic to and from St Augustine. However, the beauty of this structure along with the incredible view of the Castillo De San Marcos has created a popular walking path for visitors. The name Bridge of Lions comes from the four marble lions guarding the bridge. During the Festival of Lights, the bridge offers an unobstructed view of the millions of lights.
  • Plaza De La Constitucion – As the oldest public gathering place in the country, Plaza De La Constitucion has hosted millions of visitors since 1573. The Plaza is centrally located in the St Augustine Historic District and became a part of the National Historic Landmark in 1970. The lighted trees and gazebo along with an elegant Christmas tree create a can’t-miss winter wonderland.

Choose From The Many Tour Options In St Augustine

The large crowd attending the Festival of Lights means that parking is scarce and costly. Driving around in your car will be a great way to cover a large area but will make taking pictures a challenge. However, many tours throughout the city are worth the cost of tickets.

Land Tours

  • Old Town Trolley Famous Nights of Lights Tour – Riding the Old Town Trolley during the Festival of Lights has become an annual tradition for visitors and locals alike. The trolley tour departs nightly from the Visitors Information Center located at 10 W. Castillo Dr. Each tour will take around half hour to 45 minutes. You must make reservations a day before and it is highly recommended to arrive 20 minutes before departure. Tickets are not refundable, please allocate enough time to park and check-in early. The high traffic during the Festival of Lights could delay your arrival and miss the trolley
  • Private Golf Cart Tours – This tour is designed and operated by St Augustine Lane and Sea Tours to offer the ultimate and up-close experience of the Festival of Lights. The tour lasts a half hour to 45 minutes. depending on traffic. To better enjoy the scenery and sounds of Christmas, the Golf Cart Tours offer no narrators. Please, like any other tour, make sure to arrive early and register with the attendants.

Water Tours

  • St Augustine Eco Tours – Eco Tours are a great way to see the St Augustine’s Festival of Lights in the comfort of boats and from waterways. Besides the tours for the Festival of Lights. Eco-Tours offer many other excursions all year long. You can explore the area in many ways with Eco Tours. Choose from Private Boat Tours, Kayak Tours, Boating Expeditions, or Sailing Excursions. Boating Expeditions offer different tours designed to satisfy any taste. Some of these tours include Birding and Nature Tour, Dolphin Tour, and Photography Tour.
  • Black Raven Pirate Ship – This ship along with its sister ship, the Queen Ann’s Revenge, offers great adventure tours all year long. The reenactment of pirate adventures brings the days of the Black Beard domination of the sea to life. The Black Raven tours depart from the Municipal Marina located right next to the Bridge of Lions. During the tour of the Nights of Lights, the guests are treated to Christmas carols and pirate songs performed by the crew of Black Raven Pirate Ship.