The Nights of Lights on St. George Street in St. Augustine, FL is one of the city’s most enduring traditions and a significant tourist attraction. Every year, the city is transformed by over three million white Christmas lights, turning it into a winter wonderland for the holiday season. St. Augustine has consistently been rated as one of the best places in the world to see Christmas lights, so we highly recommend planning your trip between mid-November and late January so you can catch the Nights of Lights.
The festival started in 1993, but it has roots in old Spanish Catholic customs. Traditionally, Spanish families placed candles in their windows every Christmas season, alluding to the story of Joseph and Mary searching for rooms at the inn before Jesus was born. Putting a lit candle in the window symbolizes making space in your heart and home for Jesus, as well as the welcoming atmosphere of the holiday season. These days, of course, the Nights of Lights are an entirely secular tradition, but the welcoming attitude remains.
The lights go up all over St. Augustine, but the best place to see them is in the Plaza de la Constitución, where the majority of the strings are kept. The central gazebo is covered in lights, as are the trees in the plaza, and the city puts up a giant Christmas tree in the middle of the square that makes for a perfect backdrop to any photographs. You’ll also be able to visit all the terrific restaurants in the area when you get hungry.
To make the most of your next trip to northeastern Florida, check out our St. Augustine Self-Guided Walking Tour, or you can sign up for Action+ and gain access to over 100 tours for a single yearly price.
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