Colonial Night Watch

The Colonial Night Watch takes place on December 5, 2026. The main event, a torchlight parade, begins at the Visitor Information Center at 7:00 p.m. (The change in the starting location is due to the seawall construction at the Castillo de San Marcos. The fort is open, but areas around the fort are closed.) This popular living history event recreates the security protocols of historic garrison towns. After the city gates were locked for the night, any citizen out on the streets was required to carry a light so the Night Watch could identify them. 

The Colonial Night Watch culminates in a torch-lit parade, starting at the Visitor Information Center, 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 5, 2026. The historic reenactors march to the City Gate and then down St. George Street to the Governor's House Cultural Center and Museum at the Plaza de la Constitución. The public is invited to follow the troops as they march from the City Gate down St. George Street.

At the Governor's House, parade participants will be greeted with a welcoming speech, followed by a "Volley of Joy" by soldiers and militia, as they sing Christmas carols to ring in the holiday season.

The public is invited to follow the parade to the Plaza and is encouraged to sing along with the caroling.

Admission: Free

When: The torch-lit Colonial Night Watch parade begins at 7:00 p.m, starting from the Visitor Information Center, 10 S. Castillo Drive, St. Augustine, Florida, 32084.

Where: From the Visitor's Center, to the City Gate, and along St. George Street to the Governor's House Museum.

Nights of Lights Free Parking and Shuttles for 2026/27

Free parking and free shuttle rides to and from your car on select days and nights during Nights of Lights. 

We do not have information for the 2026/27 season. We will update this later in the year.

Also, see below for information about the STAR Beach Shuttle for Nights of Lights. That shuttle runs on Anastasia Island and drops people off on the east side of the bridge.

How Does it Work?

Park for free in one of three lots, take a free bus to the Visitor Information Center, enjoy all Nights of Lights has to offer, and take a free bus back to your car. 

When Will it Operate?

• From 1:00 to 11:00 p.m., on 33 days of Nights of Lights, and on December 5 (the day of the Christmas Parade) from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
• November: 15, 16, 21, 22, 23, 28, 29, and 30
• December: 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, and 31
• January: 1, 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, and 11

Where Will You Park? 

Three lots will operate on all 33 days:

• Broudy's Lot, 198 West King Street, St. Augustine, off U.S. 1
• North San Marco Lot, 301 San Marco Avenue, St. Augustine
• St. Johns County Health Department, 200 San Sebastian View, St. Augustine, off U.S. 1

Light-Up Night Anastasia Shuttles

Two additional lots on Anastasia Island will operate from 4:00 to 11:00 p.m. on Light-Up! Night, November 15, 2025

• R.B. Hunt School, 125 Magnolia Dr., St. Augustine, Florida 32080
• Anastasia Baptist Church, 1650 A1A S, St. Augustine, Florida 32080

Why Use the Shuttle?

• It's free.*
• It's easy. You avoid the hassle of driving around and around the city streets looking for a parking spot.
• Third, Nights of Lights is a walking event and a tour event. Leave your car in a free lot, take a free shuttle to the Visitor Information Center, walk around town, and ride on a carriage, a trolley, a red train, or a golf cart.
• * When the shuttles operate, the parking garage fee will be $40.00. (This fee does not apply to St. Johns County residents who have registered with ParkStAug. You can register online or at the office on Bridge Street.

STAR Beach Shuttle for Nights of Lights

During the Nights of Lights Season, the STAR bus stops transiting downtown at 4:00 p.m. and moves to a route on Anastasia Island. 

Beginning on Sunday, November 16, 2025, and continuing through January 4, 2026 (EXCEPT FOR DECEMBER 31!), the STAR bus travels a route on Anastasia Island from 5:00 p.m. to midnight.

The bus delivers passengers to 201 Gerado Street, on the east side of the Bridge of Lions. 

It stops at many of the St. Augustine Beach hotels to pick up guests of those hotels and at several parking areas along the route:

• Alligator Farm, 999 Anastasia Boulevard (There may be less parking available on December 12, during their market)
• St. Augustine Beach City Hall, 2200 A1A S.
• A Street + A1A Beach Boulevard
• St. Johns County Ocean Pier Park, 350 A1a Beach Boulevard

On December 31, 2025

1. Shuttle service will only operate at St. Augustine Beach
2. Historic Tours of America provides free park and ride shuttle services for the City of St. Augustine Beach and the New Year’s Eve fireworks show, and there will be no nighttime service to the City of St. Augustine for Nights of Lights.
3. The STAR Circulator will resume its Nights of Lights operations on Anastasia Island on Thursday, January 1, 2026, from 5:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m., and will continue nightly through Sunday, January 11.

Click here to learn more about the STAR Beach Shuttle for Nights of Lights.