Nights of Lights in St. Augustine – 6 Tips for Your Visit

If you are looking for a holiday light show that is guaranteed to wow, then look no further! Less than a two-hour drive from Orlando, you can visit Nights of Lights in St. Augustine, a beautiful historic northeastern coast town, this holiday season.

With all of the rich Florida history, St. Augustine itself is one of our favorite day trips. You can read my post about some of the other things you can do during the day here.

But, starting November 23, 2019, and going through February 2, 2020, each night from dusk to dawn, historic St. Augustine will be lit up with over 3 million white lights for its annual Nights of Lights.

The History

The Nights of Lights is going on its 26th year but the event itself traces its origins back to the traditional Spanish practice of displaying a white candle in windows during the Christmas holidays. A candle in the window supposedly implied that Mary and Joseph could find no inn that would give them shelter. When the Spanish put candles in their windows it was symbolic that they were making room in their homes and hearts for Jesus.

Now that we have shared the history, the when and where, here are a few tips to make your visit to the Nights of Lights more enjoyable.

Arrive Early

So, my first and most important tip for you is to arrive early. This is a very popular event and traffic gets very congested. There is one parking garage located near the Visitor’s Center, but otherwise, parking is sporadic throughout the city. Fortunately during some of the busiest days during the holiday season, St. Augustine offers a free Park and Ride Shuttle.

The other reason to arrive early is so you can be there when the lights come on. It is part of the beauty that you do not want to miss.

Go Off-Peak Times

Of course, the weekends are the busiest time for viewing the lights. If you have the flexibility to go mid-week you can avoid the crowds and enjoy the lights at your leisure. Also, many of the local hotels and beds and breakfasts offer cheaper rates mid-week so you could stay overnight which will give you an opportunity to enjoy the city during the daytime hours as well.

We always love to make our trips to St. Augustine an overnight visit so we get to enjoy both the beauty of the city in the day and evening.

Ways to See the Lights

There are many options for ways to view the lights throughout the city. One of the very popular ways to view the lights in St. Augustine is by trains or trolley. Both the Ripley’s Red Train or Old Town Trolley, which normally offer tours during the day, offer special seasonal tours that take you through the best areas of Nights of Lights.

You can also view the lights via water with a boat excursion, a horse-and-carriage tour, or by air with Old City Helicopters.

Of course, you can always view the lights on foot, which is what our family has done and we were able to not only view the most popular spots, but there are some areas where only foot traffic can go.

Enjoy Dinner at Harry’s Seafood

In my opinion, Harry’s Seafood is the best place to dine during the Nights of Lights. We decided to eat there on our last trip because it faces the water and the view is spectacular. The restaurant also has a courtyard of strung lights year-round. Harry’s is just around the corner from the decked-out Plaza and you can walk along the bayfront and admire the palm trees lighting the way after a delicious dinner.

Even if you do not decide to dine at Harry’s, I do recommend enjoying one of the lovely restaurants in the historic city to enjoy dining in the view of lights and decorated buildings. You will find a variety of cuisines, everything from authentic Spanish and Italian restaurants to barbeque and pizza.

Popular Light Locations

Although you will find lights all over the city, there are a few places that you don’t want to miss!

The Plaza – The Plaza de la Constitución is where you will find most of the light-up action taking place. There you will find a gazebo and lights strung along all the trees. In the center of the Plaza de la Constitucion, you will find the town’s giant Christmas tree. A great photo op for the family!

Bayfront – Along the bayfront you will find palm trees adorned with beautiful white lights. You can also look out and see much of the historic city covered in white lights from here. We have enjoyed many of a nighttime stroll here. Do keep in mind though that it can be chilly along the water with the breeze. So be sure to have a sweater.

Lightner Museum and Flagler College – I missed seeing these on our first trip as they are located a short distance on King Street. Both of these buildings are adorned with lights during Nights of Lights and are worth checking out.

St. George Street – Don’t forget to check out the pedestrian-only area, St. George Street, which is also the main shopping area of the city. Businesses stay open later so not only do you get to enjoy the lights but you can do a little shopping!

Dress Appropriately

Florida winters are a funny thing. I have been to Nights of Lights both on very warm and very cold evenings. Once the sun goes down the temperatures can be quite cool, especially along the bayfront. Be sure to have warm clothes with you, and perhaps stop off for some hot chocolate with the family. That always adds a little extra warmth and fun to our evening out.

So grab your family, some cozy clothes and your walking shoes and make a plan to check out one of the most beautiful light displays around Central Florida this holiday season.

Be sure to use these tips to make the most out of your visit to St. Augustine’s Nights of Lights. Here’s to Florida Holiday Fun!