First Coast Opera: The Elixir of Love

First Coast Opera presents performances of The Elixir of Love, an opera by Donizetti, on Thursday, December 31, 2026, at 7:30 p.m., and on Saturday, January 2, 2027, at 2:00 p.m. The performances are approximately two and a half hours long and take place at Lewis Auditorium, 14 Granada Street. Both productions offer a pre-show talk, open to all ticket holders, beginning one hour before each performance.

The opera is sung in Italian with English subtitles projected for the audience. This two-act comic opera premiered in Milan on May 12, 1832. The main characters are Adina, a beautiful owner of a local farm; Nemorino, a poor young man hopelessly in love with her; Sergeant Belcore, a soldier who attempts to sweep Adina off her feet and marry her immediately; and Dr. Dulcamara, who sells a "love potion" to Nemorino. Song and comedy ensue.

Paul Houghtaling directs the opera, which was composed by Gaetano Donizetti, with Librettist Felice Romani.

Cast:

• Nemorino: Pedro Valdez
• Adina: Elena Galvin
• Belcore: Jake Stamatis
• Dr. Dulcamara: Mark Covey
• Gianetta: Christen May Mayer

First Coast Opera serves Northeast Florida with professional opera performances for the community's education, cultural enhancement, and enjoyment. They strive to offer artistic excellence and are committed to developing local talent.

Event Details

Admission: Prices for adults range from $45.00 to $90.00. Young patrons (adults under 30) can purchase a general admission ticket for $30.00. Two children and teens under 18 may attend free with each adult ticket. Discounted tickets are not available in the premium section. Learn more and purchase tickets online.

When: 

• Thursday, December 31, 2025, at 7:30 p.m.
• Saturday, January 2, 2027, at 2:00 p.m.

The lobby opens 90 minutes before showtime, and the pre-show talk begins 60 minutes before.

Where: Lewis Auditorium, 14 Granada Street, St. Augustine, Florida 32084

Parking: You cannot park at Lewis Auditorium. Please allow time for parking downtown during Nights of Lights. For more parking information, see below.

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.