A Magical Guide for Families Visiting Nights of Lights in St. Augustine

Ava Varnadoe Coastal Babysitter
21 minutes ago
7 min read

✨ Twinkling Tidbit:

Opening night alone welcomes more than 20,000

festive visitors into the Historic District each year.

Visiting Nights of Lights with your family this year? You are in for one of the most breathtaking holiday traditions in Florida. St. Augustine glows with more than 3 million twinkling lights, transforming every street, fountain, and historic building into a dazzling winter wonderland.

Whether this is your first visit or your family returns every year, this guide will help make your Nights of Lights experience smoother, brighter, and full of memory making moments. Read along for helpful tips, the best viewing spots, and a few personal favorites that make this season shine.

Now imagine walking through the oldest city in the nation on a peaceful winter night, surrounded by millions of lights reflecting off centuries old architecture, storefront windows, and the shimmering bay. St. Augustine is beautiful year round but during Nights of Lights it becomes something truly extraordinary.

✨ Twinkling Tidbit: St. Augustine isn’t just charming, it is the oldest continuously inhabited city in the United States, founded in 1565.

Nights of Lights brings wonder to kids who love the glow of holiday lights and it is also a dreamy date night experience for adults. Want to enjoy the city’s nighttime charm without little ones in tow? 30A & Coastal Babysitters offers trusted, professional babysitters/caregivers so you can explore with ease knowing your children are safe, happy, and having fun.

Not sure where to begin? Below are some of the best spots, helpful tips, and local favorites to help you enjoy your own magical journey through the heart of St. Augustine.

St. George Street:

A sparkling strip of old buildings, their windows glowing with pure magic. It offers some of the best shops for shopping and unique finds. The street is pedestrian only, and also brick paved, dating as far back as the early 1900’s giving that centuries-old feel as you walk amongst others and check out the many special shops. You’ll find anything from snacks and treats, light or full dinners, shopping and unique finds, and you may even get to enjoy some local talent that sets up on the street, providing entertainment as you stroll down the famous St. George Street. You don’t want to miss this notorious, one of a kind hot spot!

Oldest Wooden School:

You’ll find this historic treasure also on St. George Street. It was believed to have been opened in the early 1700s. It was later turned into a homestead, but the school remains on the main floor, with entry from St. George Street. In 1937, its owner at the time, Walter B. Fraser, added a chain and anchor wrapped around the building to prevent it from floating away during a hurricane. There’s so much history wrapped up in this building. With a small fee, you can take a house tour through the school and get educated on the unique story, with all the historical facts, of the oldest school house in America.

Plaza de la Constitución:

Rich with history, this local gem spot is the oldest public gathering spot, dating all the way back to 1553. It’s still used to this day as that, with concerts performed here weekly throughout the year. During the holiday season, this area sparkles from top to bottom, from the trees to the rooftops, with tiny white lights. It’s quite a sight to see!

✨ Twinkling Tidbit:

Many families visit the tree every year and recreate the same photo in front of it, watching

their children grow through each season of lights. For many locals, it is a treasured holiday tradition.

Bridge of Lions:

Walk across the bridge that stretches over the bay and enjoy the reflection of the lights on the water as they dance and twinkle in motion below you. Here you’ll see an open panoramic view from all around you, while beneath the stars above. One of the best spots to capture the memory of the festivities in a photo.

✨ Twinkling Tidbit:

Stand at the center of the Bridge of Lions during sunset, you can watch the lights turn on while the

sky glows gold behind them.

Holiday Boat Tour:

What would the water be without a boat? With all kinds of boat tours available, this is one of the more intimate and quieter ways to enjoy the lights. Let yourself drift away on a magical boat ride and enjoy the lights from a distance. It truly is an unforgettable experience!

✨ Twinkling Tidbit:

Boat tours don’t just offer a pretty view. Many captains decorate

their boats, play festive music, and even provide cozy blankets.

The St. Augustine Lighthouse:

Want a view from above? May be for the more energetic, but the St. Augustine Lighthouse offers just that. The Lighthouse offers a different view entirely. Take in the lights as you peer out and below you, and see the lights sparkling across the city. With 219 steps to the top, it’s worth the climb!

✨ Twinkling Tidbit: The current St. Augustine Lighthouse is 150 years old, as it was built between 1871 and 1874. However, the history of the site dates back much further to a Spanish watchtower built in 1589, making it the oldest permanent navigation aid in North America.

Carriage rides:

Looking for that fairytale moment? Take that special someone, or your favorite group, to take in the lights with the slow and steady stride of one of the most majestic animals in the city. What could be more romantic than sitting in a carriage getting to take a memorable tour through downtown and Nights of Lights with an old fashioned horse drawn carriage?

✨ Twinkling Tidbit:

Carriage horses can hear the music from blocks away and often slow

their step as they approach the brightest sections of town. True holiday magic!

Photo Credit: Rhonda Lovett / FloridasHistoricCoast.com

Need a few insider tips?

Visit on quieter weeknights to savor the glow without the crowd. Parking can sometimes be a challenge, but if you arrive earlier, you can usually beat the crowd. There’s a parking garage downtown and also limited metered parking on the bay front. Different shuttle rides offer the ability to park further away, while dropping you off near the excitement. Most importantly, you’re going to want to be comfy while you get lost in the delicate lights. Wear layers, even with a chill in the air-you might get warm from all the excitement. Wear comfortable shoes-you’ll want to be able to go everywhere. Need a night out without the kids? Don’t forget to check out 30A & Coastal Babysitters. They take the hassle out of finding a responsible babysitter/caregiver. They have fully vetted professional babysitters/caregivers who are background cleared, CPR certified and available at your fingertips. You can pick through the list of babysitters/caregivers yourself or let them choose for you!

Don’t forget to plan!

The magic of Nights of Lights is undeniable for families, but sometimes parents need time to enjoy their time too. Let yourself get whisked away in the sparkling nightlife without the dance of patience from little meltdowns, snack breaks, bathroom breaks, and on and off again bundled coats. Here’s how to make the night feel like a soft, effortless story…

✨ Twinkling Tidbit: The display stretches more than 20 city blocks, making it one of the largest and longest-running holiday lights displays in the entire country.

Plan with a sitter:

Booking a trusted babysitter/caregiver allows you to wander the historic streets at your own pace. Whether it’s a quiet stroll, a festive meal, or a gentle boat ride, you can savor every glowing corner while knowing your little ones are safe, happy, and entertained.

✨ Twinkling Tidbit: Families often explore the lights first, then let a sitter take the kids back for cozy pajamas and a playful evening routine. Booking ahead ensures you have someone wonderful waiting.

Enjoy adult-friendly experiences:

Some streets, cafés, and hidden corners are especially magical when you have time to linger. Perhaps a small wine bar or a quiet terrace is calling your name. Having a sitter ensures you can pause, breathe, and take in the night fully.

Family-friendly paths:

If the children will be joining, map a route, including places to take a break, like the Plaza de la Constitución. It’s a charming spot the children are sure to enjoy, where they can run, marvel, and snack amongst the trees.

Having a babysitter/caregiver offers the freedom to enjoy the best of both worlds, childlike wonder and grown-up magic without any compromise. For a good laugh, I recommend the Grinch tour for Nights of Lights. It’s good for both, either as a date night or with kids.

Along your route, make sure to check out the family friendly Cafés, bakeries, and sweet shops along St. George Street, perfect for hot cocoa and holiday treats.

If enjoying the night alone without the little ones, there are plenty of adult friendly retreats that offer cozy wine bars, intimate restaurants, and quiet terraces for a reflective pause under the lights. Make sure to book a babysitter/caregiver ahead with 30A & Coastal Babysitters for a professional babysitter/caregiver who can make your evening effortless. Let the children play safely while you, as parents, wander, linger, and indulge peacefully.

✨ Twinkling Tidbit:

Nights of Lights has been recognized by National Geographic as

one of the Top 10 Holiday Light Displays in the World. Yes… the world.

St. Augustine’s Nights of Lights is more than just an event. It’s a quiet story whispered through centuries-old streets. With a soft glow wrapped around the heartbeat of the city, families, couples, and all visitors can step into this luminous fairytale and feel its magic.

Let the big kid in you enjoy this luminous fairytale and feel its magic. Book a trusted babysitter/caregiver from 30A & Coastal Babysitters and embrace your own moment of wonder while knowing the children are safe, happy, and part of their own magical night too. Plan your night under the glow of history, sip in the charm of St. Augustine, and let the lights remind you that even the smallest glow can light up the heart.