Nights of Lights 2026 Returns to St. Augustine Nov. 21
Let the holiday glow begin. St. Augustine's biggest holiday tradition returns November 21, 2026, when millions of white lights illuminate the Nation's Oldest City for nearly two months of holiday magic.
There are holiday events in St. Johns County — and then there is Nights of Lights.
The annual celebration transforms historic downtown St. Augustine into a glowing holiday landscape, with millions of tiny white lights stretching from the city's plazas and trees to its historic buildings and rooftops.
The 2026–27 Nights of Lights season will begin Saturday, Nov. 21, 2026, and continue through Monday, Jan. 18, 2027. That means the lights will remain on through Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's and Martin Luther King Jr. weekend.
Nights of Lights is free and open to everyone, making it one of the largest free family holiday attractions in Northeast Florida.
✨ Light-Up! Night is Nov. 21
Opening night is an event of its own. The 33rd annual Nights of Lights begins with live holiday entertainment followed by the moment downtown St. Augustine officially lights up for the season.
Holiday music and entertainment kicks off the afternoon near St. Augustine City Hall.
Swing, big-band music and holiday favorites at the Plaza de la Constitución.
The official Light-Up! Night ceremony flips the switch and illuminates downtown St. Augustine.
Why Nights of Lights is such a big deal in St. Johns County
For local families, Nights of Lights isn't simply something to do during December. It is one of the traditions that signals the beginning of the holiday season in St. Johns County.
The lights extend through the historic district, including the Plaza de la Constitución, the bayfront, historic streets, shops, restaurants and some of St. Augustine's most recognizable landmarks.
Visitors can walk the lights for free or see downtown from a trolley, boat or other seasonal tour. And because the celebration lasts nearly two months, local families don't have to squeeze everything into one December weekend.
Planning a 2026 Nights of Lights visit
🚶 Walk it
This is not designed as a traditional drive-through light display. Historic St. Augustine is best explored on foot, particularly around the Plaza, St. George Street and the bayfront.
🚌 Use the free shuttle
On selected high-attendance dates, the City operates free Park & Ride shuttles from satellite parking areas into downtown.
Check shuttle information →📱 Download the Nights of Lights app
The official mobile guide includes parking, maps, shuttle information, events, restaurants and other tools for navigating downtown during the season.
Nights of Lights visitor guide →📅 Don't wait until Christmas week
The lights run through January 18. Families who live nearby can often have a much easier evening by choosing a weeknight or visiting after the peak December holiday rush.
Where should families start?
If this is your family's first Nights of Lights, start around the Plaza de la Constitución. From there, you can walk St. George Street, head toward the bayfront and Bridge of Lions, explore the surrounding historic district, or stop for dinner before continuing through downtown.
Comfortable shoes are a very good idea. So is making dinner reservations on especially busy weekends.
Parking can be the hardest part
Nights of Lights draws large crowds, particularly on weekends and during the weeks surrounding Christmas. Downtown parking can fill quickly.
St. Johns County residents who have learned this lesson the hard way know the rule: have a parking plan before you leave home.
The City of St. Augustine operates free Park & Ride service on selected peak Nights of Lights dates. The City's official page will publish the current 2026–27 parking lots and shuttle schedule as those details are finalized.
Check St. Augustine Park & Ride information →
Nights of Lights runs all the way through Jan. 18
One particularly useful change for 2026 is the length of the season. St. Augustine has established its Nights of Lights schedule from the Saturday before Thanksgiving through the observed Martin Luther King Jr. holiday in January.
So if December gets away from you — or you would rather visit after the biggest holiday crowds have gone home — you have until Monday, Jan. 18, 2027 to take the family downtown.
More from StJohnsFL.org
Making a day of it? Explore more local guides before heading into St. Augustine:
🗓️ Things to Do in St. Johns County
👨👩👧👦 St. Johns County Parents Guide
🌊 St. Johns County Beaches Guide
📍 The StJohnsFL.org Local Guide
Official Nights of Lights resources
Bookmark these before heading downtown. Parking and transportation details may change as the 2026–27 season gets closer.
Let the holiday glow begin
Whether your family's tradition is opening night, a December stroll after dinner, a trolley ride with visiting relatives or one last walk beneath the lights in January, Nights of Lights remains one of the events that makes the holiday season in St. Johns County feel distinctly like home.
Nights of Lights 2026–27: Saturday, Nov. 21, 2026 through Monday, Jan. 18, 2027, in historic St. Augustine.
Event schedules, shuttle dates and transportation details can change. StJohnsFL.org recommends checking the City of St. Augustine's official event information before traveling downtown.