A Kid’s Guide to Nights of Lights

Nights of Lights 

Have you ever imagined a whole city covered in millions of tiny twinkling lights? Like, everywhere? That’s exactly what happens in St. Augustine, Florida, every year during Nights of Lights, and it’s super magical.

So… What IS Nights of Lights?

From early November through the beginning of January, St. Augustine lights up every night. Millions of bright white lights (and some colorful lights, too) decorate buildings, trees, bridges, and even boats!  It's a winter wonderland, without all the snow. 

The lights aren’t just on one street. They’re everywhere. Lights, lights, and more lights. Old buildings sparkle, trees glow like they’re sprinkled with stardust, and there are even palm trees wrapped from top to bottom in lights. 

Why So Many Lights?

Here’s a cool fact: St. Augustine has been lighting up the city since 1993. That’s more than 30 years of holiday fun! The lights celebrate the holiday season and the city’s Spanish heritage.

In Spain, people light candles and lanterns for the holidays, and St. Augustine wanted to use white lights instead of candles… but they went BIG.

Now, people from all over the world come to see the lights.

What Makes Nights of Lights So Special?

1. Well...It’s HUGE.

   We’re talking THREE MILLION lights! Counting them all would take forever (though you can totally try). I couldn't make it past twenty, but I ran out of fingers and toes.

2. The City is Really, Really Old

   St. Augustine was founded in 1565. That makes it the oldest city in the United States. Some of the buildings are older than the country itself. Walking around feels like walking in the streets of early America.

3. You Can See the Lights in Lots of Ways

   You can ride a horse-drawn carriage like a prince or princess. You can
   hop on a trolley that takes you all around the city. You can even take tours on boats, in golf carts, and even in helicopters. 

   Best of all, you can get up close by walking the streets with your family. Tell your parents about these Family Games for Nights of Lights and have some extra fun while you explore. 

4. All the Lights Are White

   Most light shows are rainbow-colored, but Nights of Lights mostly sticks to white. It makes everything look like you're in a giant glowing snow globe.

5. Two Special Lights

   A long time ago, a city worker named Bobby started putting a single red light in the display as a fun game for his daughter Liliana. She loved trying to find the red light among all the white ones each year. Now, Liliana's daughter enjoys looking for her own light, too. It's green. Even though Bobby is retired, those two lights are still a part of Nights of Lights. You can try to spot them. It’s like a tiny treasure hunt in the Plaza de la Constitución.

When Can You See The Lights?

The lights usually shine from the middle of November all the way through the beginning of January. They turn on every evening at sunset. The big lighting ceremony happens on a special day in November, when all the lights flick on at once. Can you imagine the WOW moment? That moment is what keeps families like yours coming to the St. Augustine every winter.

What Should You Look For?

Keep your eyes open for these favorites:

• Plaza de la Constitución – The main town square with a huge sparkling tree in the center.
• Bridge of Lions – A glowing bridge with lights reflecting in the water.
• St. George Street – A walking-only street full of shops and restaurants (and candy stores), all glowing with lights.
• Lightner Museum – This fancy old hotel looks like a mansion.
• Ripley's Museum – This fun and strange museum also looks like a castle and has some pretty cool stuff inside, too.
• The Black Raven Ship – Look for this glowing pirate ship as it sails through the bay, sparkling with lights. Riding on it is a blast… though, I wonder if pirates like singing Christmas songs.

Fun Facts to Impress Your Friends

• There are around 3 million lights on display during Nights of Lights.
• It takes weeks to put all the lights up.
• Some buildings decorated with lights were built in the 1600s and 1700s. That's more than 300 years ago!
• National Geographic says Nights of Lights is one of the top 10 holiday light displays in the whole world. That’s pretty amazing!

Ready to Explore?

Now that you know about Night of Lights, it’s time to see it for yourself. Bring your curiosity, and get ready for an adventure full of lights, history, and fun. Let the magic begin!