Light-Up! Night

The fun begins at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 21. The actual Light-Up! ceremony begins promptly at 6:30 p.m.

On November 21, 2026, St. Augustine's 33rd Nights of Lights Celebration begins with the annual "Light-Up! Night" at Parque de Menendez (the grounds in front of St. Augustine City Hall) at 4:00 p.m.

The celebration at the Plaza de la Constitución begins at 5:30 p.m. The lighting ceremony starts at 6:30 p.m.

Light-Up! Night

• At 4:00 p.m., in front of the Lightner Museum, Showtime USA presents a song and dance routine to welcome the holiday season. 
• At 5:30 p.m., in the Plaza de la Constitución, Northeast Florida's local event band, the All-Star Orchestra, swings on the gazebo stage, playing holiday favorites with a big-band flair.
• At 6:30 p.m., dignitaries gather on the gazebo stage and start the countdown. The designated person flips the Nights of Lights switch, and more than three million lights illuminate the city. After the ceremony, the All-Star Orchestra plays holiday tunes until 7:30 p.m.

ASL Interpreters will be at the gazebo during the concert and lighting ceremony, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.

The lights remain lit past midnight.

From November 21, 2026, through January 18, 2027, the lights will be turned on each day at dusk and remain lit until the wee hours of the morning.

Admission: Free

When: Saturday, November 21, 2026, from 4:00 to 7:30 p.m.

Where: 

• City Hall, 75 King St., from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m.
• Plaza de la Constitución, Cathedral Place, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Street Closures and Parking

Cathedral Place

• No parking all day
• No vehicular traffic from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m.

King Street between Cordova St. and Avenida Menendez

• No parking all day on the north (plaza) side of the street/

Special Shuttle from Anastasia Island

For Light-Up! Night, two lots on Anastasia Island will operate from 4:00 to 11:00 p.m. on Light-Up! Night, November 21, 2026.

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

Parking and Shuttles During Nights of Lights

Nights of Lights begins at dusk on Saturday, November 21, and ends on Monday, January 18, 2027. 

There are two types of bus routes:

1. Free Park and Ride Shuttles on select days. (See Below)
2. Free STAR Circulator Bus on a loop between the Visitor Information Center and Quality Inn and Suites at St. Augustine Beach, adjusted for Nights of Lights. (Go here to learn more.) 

Free Park and Ride Shuttles

How Does it Work?

• Park for free in one of the lots outside of town.
• Take a free shuttle bus to the Visitor Information Center, and enjoy all that Nights of Lights has to offer.
• Then, meet the free shuttle bus at the Visitor Center and ride back to your car. 

When Do the Free Shuttles Operate in 2026/27?

• 4:00 to 11:00 pm. on Light-Up! Night, November 21.
• 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. on December 5 (the day of the Christmas Parade).
• 1:00 to 11:00 p.m. on the remaining 21 high-attendance days during Nights of Lights.
  • November: 27 and 28
  • December: 4, 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, and 31
  • January: 1 and 2

Where Will You Park? 

Three lots will be open on the days the shuttles operate:

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

Special Light-Up! Night Shuttle on Anastasia Island

On Saturday, November 21, 2026, park in one of two lots on Anastasia Island and use the Free Park-and-Ride Shuttle, provided by Historic Tours of America. This shuttle operates from 4:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., traveling between the two lots and the east (Anastasia) side of the Bridge of Lions. You will have to walk across the bridge to get to town, and walk back across the bridge to pick up the shuttle when you want to return to your car.

• Anastasia Baptist Church, 1650 A1A South
• R.B. Hunt Elementary School, 125 Magnolia Drive (off A1A South)

Why Use the Lots and Shuttle Service?

• 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 a trolley, a red train, a golf cart, or a pedi-cab.
• When the shuttles are operating, the parking garage charges $40.00 after 1:00 p.m. Before 1:00 p.m., and on any day the shuttles don't operate, the garage charges $20.00 for the day. 
• This fee does not apply to St. Johns County residents who have registered with ParkStAug. Residents are encouraged to register online or at the city office on Bridge Street before Nights of Lights starts. Having the ParkStAug app does not guarantee you a space in the garage.

Busiest Days with Heavy Traffic

You can absolutely enjoy these days. Just plan to arrive early.

Here are the special events that will impact the traffic and the shuttles:

• Light-UP! Night, Saturday, November 21, 2026, beginning at 4:00 p.m. Shuttles start at 4:00 p.m. See below for information about the special Park-and-Ride shuttle from Anastasia Island.
• Christmas Parade,  Saturday, December 5, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. The shuttles start operating at 8:00 a.m. for the Christmas Parade.
• Regatta of Lights, Saturday, December 12, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. Coming from Ponte Vedra? View the boats from the Vilano Fishing Pier. Coming from Anastasia? View the boats from the bridge. The viewing space on the bayfront is limited due to construction.