St. Augustine from across the river, with the Bridge of Lions and the city illuminated for Nights of Lights

Nights of Lights 2024 - 2025

Dazzling holiday display of three million lights in St. Augustine.

Nights of Lights begins with "Light-Up Night!" on Saturday, November 23, 2024, shortly after 6:30 p.m., when Historic Downtown St. Augustine lights up with millions of twinkling white lights for the start of the annual Nights of Lights holiday display. Beginning on Light-Up Night!, the colorfully lit Christmas tree is joined by strings of white lights draped over every tree in the Plaza de la Constitución and throughout Historic Downtown. Historic sites, bed and breakfasts, museums, restaurants, and shops all glow with white lights and holiday cheer until January 31, 2025.

Nights of Lights is described as honoring the Spanish tradition of displaying a white candle in the window during Christmas. Now celebrating 31 years, the tradition continues, with some three million white lights twinkling on the old buildings and landmarks from the bayfront to Cordova Street. Nights of Lights has become famous worldwide as one of the finest places to see holiday lights. The festival has been featured on Top Ten lists in various publications, including National Geographic and Rachael Ray magazines. The lights will shimmer every night from Saturday, November 23, 2024, to Friday, January 26, 2025.

Upcoming Nights of Lights Events

So Many Lights, So Little Time

What to do? Where to go? Where to stay? We have the answers.

Nights of Lights is a great time to Visit St. Augustine. You can enjoy the beaches, shop, and take in a museum or two during the day, and then spend time downtown with all the lights and holiday cheer in the evenings.

Our articles will help you plan everything where to stay, where to park, favorite breakfast spots, and Nights of Lights must-see locations.

Updated November 8th, 2024

Use this guide to spend more time enjoying the city, instead of looking for parking....

What's Happening During Nights of Lights?

Special events, tours, a parade, and a ballet — there is a lot to do during Nights of Lights

Light Up Night on November 23rd is the first event of the season. After that, somewhere in town, by land or sea, there are Nights of Lights Tour every day through January 26th.

In addition to those tours, we have the Christmas Parade in Historic Downtown at 9:00 a.m. on December 7th, and Surf Illumination that evening on St. Augustine Beach from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m.The rest of December is like that, full of tours, dance, lights, music, and theater. 

In January, the lights remain bright, and many tours continue. However, the events aren't focused on Christmas. Instead,  January events include a Film Festival, A Blues Festival, and a Pirate Festival.

Ripley's Red Train on a Nights of Lights tour
Today
6:00 pm

Nights of Lights Tours 2024 - 2025

Festive Nights of Lights tours by land, sea, and sky.

During the holiday season, the City of St. Augustine becomes a festival of twinkling white lights as it hosts the annual Nights of Lights display. The festivities start at Light Up Night on Saturday, November 23, 2024, and continue through January 26, 2025.

Dec 7th
9:00 am

Christmas Parade 2024

Celebrate the holiday season at St. Augustine's annual parade featuring Santa.

St. Augustine's 67th Annual Christmas Parade ushers in the holiday season with floats, festive decorations, and a Santa sack full of fun. Local organizations and neighborhoods join with cars, dogs, floats, and costumed, holiday-themed marchers — making it one of the largest parades in Northeast Florida.

The St. Augustine Beach sign
Dec 7th
4:00 pm

Surf Illumination — 2024

St. Augustine Beach's lighting festival kicks off the holiday season.

Surf Illumination, on St. Augustine Beach, provides a colorful addition to St. Augustine's world-famous Nights of Lights holiday display. St. Augustine Beach kicks off the holiday season with a ceremonial lighting beachside at St. Johns Pier Park on A1A Beach Boulevard from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Saturday, December 7, 2024.

A large powerboat decorated with hundreds of holiday lights, and with a rock band on the bow for the Regatta of Lights boat parade in historic St. Augustine
Dec 14th
6:00 pm

Regatta of Lights 2024

The local yacht club hosts the Nights of Lights boat parade.

The Regatta of Lights takes St. Augustine's world-famous Nights of Lights on the water from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, December 14, 2024. Organized by the St. Augustine Yacht Club, sail, power, and paddle vessels of all sizes are decorated with colorful lights to create a dazzling sight for spectators along the bayfront.

A home patio and pool area, overlooking the Matanzas River, decorated for the holidays
Dec 8th
12:00 pm

Holiday Tour of Homes — 2024

An opportunity to see historic private homes decorated for the holidays.

The 53rd Annual Holiday Tour of Homes, presented by the Garden Club of St. Augustine, takes visitors inside six homes in the nation's oldest city on Sunday, December 8, 2024, between 12:00 and 5:00 p.m.

Dec 31st
8:30 pm

Light Up the Night! New Year's Eve Beach Fireworks Show

Ring in the new year with St. Augustine Beach fireworks.

St. Augustine Beach's New Year's Eve fireworks display begins at 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, December 31, 2024, at the St. Johns County Ocean Pier. The Light Up the Beach New Year's Eve Fireworks Show can be viewed at three designated spots along A1A Beach Boulevard: The St. Johns County Ocean Pier, on A Street, and on 10th Street.

Upcoming Nights of Lights 2024 - 2025 Live Music

December 7th, 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
December 28th, 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm

More Than the Lights

The lights are great, but what else can you do while in town?

The gamut runs from at least from A to W — from visiting the Alligator Farm to hosting your wedding, there's so much more to do in St. Augustine.