Hey, I'm Taylor!
  • Home
  • About
  • Adventure
  • The States
  • International
    • Africa
      • South Africa
    • Caribbean
      • Antigua
      • Bahamas
      • Grenada
  • Travel Tips
  • Contact
  • Home
  • About
  • Adventure
  • The States
  • International
    • Africa
      • South Africa
    • Caribbean
      • Antigua
      • Bahamas
      • Grenada
  • Travel Tips
  • Contact

Tea N' Sea Travel

The States, Uncategorized · December 7, 2021

Christmas in St. Augustine: Florida Holiday Guide

When you think of holiday and Christmas travel guides, Florida may not be the first place that comes to mind, but you should definitely addChristmas in St. Augustine to your holiday bucket list! From millions of Christmas lights, to tree lightings, sailing adventures and holiday shows, St. Augustine is the most festive place in Florida to visit for Christmas! This little historic town was even placed in the top 10 places in the world to see Christmas Lights by NatGeo, and was just featured in CNTraveler as well (proud of my little hometown!) With so many popular activities to do, here are the best things to experience while visiting St. Augustine for Christmas!

Nights of Lights Grand Illumination

Christmas in St. Augustine, the bayfront lit up with warm white christmas lights on the buildings and palm trees

From mid-November to early February, St. Augustine is covered in MILLIONS (yes, millions) of warm white Christmas lights. Downtown St. Augustine transforms into a winter wonderland for blocks. The Grand Illumination is the first day of the Nights of Lights, complete with live music, entertainers, and more! Stand in the Cathedral Plaza to experience the most of the fun!

Travel Tip: Don’t drive into town, parking is difficult to find!

Unless you plan on leaving SUPER early and want to deal with lots of traffic, I’d recommend avoiding driving into town for most of the Nights of Lights season. Opt for one of the complementary shuttles, Uber, or even walk from your accommodation!

St. Augustine’s Christmas Parade

A family favorite, the St. Augustine Christmas Parade is filled with floats, performers, horseback riders, dancers, and of course, SANTA! This is a great morning activity for families and friends that want to experience a little more of the local community. The parade travels down the Bayfront, and then turns to go through the Plaza. The parade begins around 9 AM usually, but allow yourself TONS of time for parking if you’re driving into town. Even better, avoid driving and either walk or Uber from your hotel or accommodation.

Surf Illumination

A white Christmas in St. Augustine isn’t complete with the sand from the beach! St. Augustine Beach boasts colorful lights at the Pier, as well as tropical and holiday shaped lights lining A1A. St. Augustine Beach’s illumination takes place at the Pier, complete with colorfully lit palms, a Christmas tree, and lots of festivities including a Holiday market, live music, and more!

festive christmas horse pulling a carriage in st augustine

Schooner Freedom Sails

The best way to see St. Augustine’s Christmas lights from the water is by far by taking a sail aboard the Schooner Freedom. With complimentary drinks, as well as mulled wine, hot chocolate, fuzzy blankets, Christmas candy, and lights up and down the entire boat, you won’t find a better way to see Christmas lights from the water. Definitely make a reservation, as sails sell out in advance, you can learn more here!

view from the bow of Schooner Freedom overlooking the Nights of Lights in st augustine
schooner freedom sailboat decorated with christmas lights

Christmas Lights on the Bayfront

By far my favorite place to see the Christmas lights in St. Augustine are on the Bayfront! Not only can you see them from the water, but every business on the Bayfront continues to out-do one another! Tini Martini is a local’s favorite to enjoy the Christmas lights, and it’s definitely one of my favorite Christmas spots in St. Augustine!

Lighthouse Illumination

The Lighthouse Illumination is something I remember going to as a kid every year. With over 20 lighted Christmas trees in the Keeper’s house, luminaries lining all the paths through the grounds, hot chocolate and hot spiced cider, Santa, and carols by local ensembles and chorus singers, the Lighthouse Illumination is like the start of a Hallmark Christmas movie, without all the cheesy storyline. For Christmas in St. Augustine, you can’t go wrong with an event like this one!

The Red Light

Keep your eyes peeled for a single red bulb hung somewhere in town! This is a fun little scavenger hunt loved by all ages, and I even found the bulb for the first time ever this year! It can be anywhere in town, so be sure to look carefully if you want to find it!

St. Augustine's bayfront lit up with tons of christmas lights w

Tini Martini: The most lights to see at a bar for Christmas in St. Augustine

Arguably the trend-setter for the amount of lights on the entirety of the Bayfront is Tini Martini Bar. With a wait year round, that is also a local favorite, you’ve got to add Tini Martini to your Christmas in St. Augustine bucket list, and your Florida vacation as well! During Nights of Lights, Tini Martini is lit up more than you can imagine, and the cocktails are just as amazing as the lights! Order a pomegranate martini for a nice fruity touch on a red and festive drink. Just one order will give you roughly two and a half martinis, as the bar serves you the whole shaker! It’s a local’s and a visitor’s favorite, so make sure to visit for Bayfront views, great cocktails, and amazing Christmas Lights in St. Augustine!

taylor holding a pomegranite martini wearing a sparkily gold dress at tini martini bar for christmas in st augustine
Tini Martini bar decorated for Christmas in St. Augustine

Holly Jolly Shopping Spree

A perfect shopping experience to support small local businesses in St. Augustine, while enjoying special deals, Christmassy snacks and drinks, the Holly Jolly Trolly is a perfect morning to celebrate the Christmas season in Florida. Hop aboard one of the Trolley Trains after signing in and getting a complimentary Christmas cocktail, and ride to uptown St. Augustine. Once there, you’ll be dropped off and get to shop, with each storefront offering specials, snacks, cocktails, hot chocolate, and brunch! Proceeds benefit a charitable organization here in town, and if you’ve got Christmas shopping to do (or even if you don’t) you’ll love hopping aboard the Holly Jolly Trolley!

Note that this is NOT the Nights of Lights Trolley Tour that you see driving around town.

The Nights of lights trolley tour is great for families that don’t want to walk around town and want to listen to Christmas carols around St. Augustine! Just a heads up though, on weekends the traffic is very heavy, so you may want to opt for a walking experience.

Cathedral Plaza

Probably the most iconic area of town (and the area that gets the most attention), the Cathedral Plaza is the location where the lights cover all the old Oak trees. Formally known as the Plaza de la Constitucion, us locals tend to refer to it as the Cathedral Plaza. The gazebos within the Plaza are lit and are hung with garland, wreaths line the light poles, and the Plaza is where you’ll find St. Augustine’s very own Grand Christmas tree! The tree is real, and although not very large, is one of the only spots in town that you’ll find colored lights! Definitely visit the Plaza, and keep your eyes out for special events and happenings throughout the season! This is also a fun place to experience the Grand Illumination to kick off the Christmas season in St. Augustine!

Christmas tree in St. Augustine's main plaza with oak trees lit up in the background
Christmas tree in St. Augustine's main plaza with a festive gazebo and oak trees lit up in the background
Taylor and Steve standing in front of St. Augustine's Christmas tree

St. Augustine’s Regatta of Lights

Another favorite for those that enjoy boats and the “Florida” side of Christmas. The Regatta of Lights is a lighted boat parade in which vessels from town compete in various categories. The themed vessels can be seen cruising along the Bayfront just north of the Bridge of Lions. Keep your eyes peeled, and you may even see Santa!

Light Up!

One of the newest areas in St. Augustine to experience Christmas Lights is over on West King Street! Beginning this year, the little shops and businesses that lie just outside the Historic District will be lit with over 3,000 lights! With live music and the first year that the neighborhood is lighting 12 businesses, the new Christmas in St. Augustine event is one not to miss!

The Nutcracker

One of my favorite holiday traditions is watching The Nutcracker! If you didn’t already know, the Nutcracker is a ballet that takes place during a Christmas party, where Clara falls into an enchanted sleep after receiving a Nutcracker from her magician uncle. Not only is it a Christmas classic, but the music is incredible. St. Augustine offers a few different performances of The Nutcracker, performed by local ballet schools. Check out The St. Augustine Dance Conservatory’s performance – that is the same school I spent years dancing with!

Taylor dancing the merliton dance from the nutcracker

Miracle Bar at Forgotten Tonic

Last but not least, you can’t miss this Christmas pop-up bar in St. Augustine! Miracle Bar is actually a Christmas Bar in NYC, but they host pop-ups around the country! If you get the chance to experience Christmas in NYC, you’ve got to check out these things to do, but add the original Miracle Bar to that list! With a completely Christmas-themed cocktail menu, delicious recipes, and more Christmas decor than you can imagine, you’ve got to visit Miracle Bar for this time of year! It is the most Christmas-sy bar in St. Augustine, and be sure to try the drink that’s served hot, it’s perfect to warm you up on a chilly Nights of Lights walk!

festive drink being poured at Miracle Bar Christmas pop up in St. Augustine
walking through the nights of lights in st augustine

Planning a trip to St. Augustine for Christmas? Don’t forget to Pin this post!

St. Augustine's Winter Wonderland
St. Augustine Nights of Lights Travel Guide
The Best Place to See Christmas Lights in Florida

Click an icon below to share!

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)

Related

Posted In: The States, Uncategorized · Tagged: christmas destinations, florida, florida christmas lights, florida travel guide, florida winter travel guide, nights of lights travel guide, st augustine nights of lights, st. augustine, travel blogger, travel guides, vacation, winter destinations

Want to learn more about sailing and tropical destinations? Welcome aboard!

    We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at anytime.

    Built with ConvertKit

    You’ll Also Love

    The Best Resort in Delray Beach, Florida
    Adventurous Things to do in St. Augustine, Florida
    girl standing under a palm tree growing out of the crystal clear blue water at silver glen springs in floridaFlorida Natural Springs: The Ultimate Guide

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Next Post >

    A Weekend Trip to Chicago: Travel Guide

    Three things you need to bring with you when you g Three things you need to bring with you when you go on a daysail, especially in French Polynesia ⬇️🌞 Reef safe sunscreen - the coral reefs are very threatened, and many conventional sunscreens contain chemicals that inhibit coral reproduction or even cause coral bleaching. You definitely need sun protection though!📸 A waterproof camera - it can be your phone in a waterproof case, a GoPro, or a whole professional setup. Whatever you have you’ll want to capture those special moments sailing, but want to make sure your electronics are protected if you get splashed.⛵️ A light cover up or sarong - when you’re out in the elements, and o sometimes get chilly. Especially if you’re opting for a sunset sail, temps can drop a bit once the sun goes down!What are some of your essentials when taking a day sail? ⛵️ @vaapiti_moorea#frenchpolynesia #womenwhosail #tropicaltravel #moorea #oceantravel
    Should we start a ukulele beach club?!? 🎵🌊 Should we start a ukulele beach club?!? 🎵🌊This little beach day made me so excited for summer, and teaching my best friend to play ukulele was such a fun way to spend the day!Can you play any instruments?!#ukulelecover #riptide #floridavibes #beachlifevibes #tropicalvibe #islandvibes🌴 #floridatravel #saltedgranolagirl #saltyvibes #saltylife
    Do you prefer sunrises or sunsets? 🌅Personall Do you prefer sunrises or sunsets? 🌅Personally, I’m a sunset gal. I love a good sunrise but I am so not a morning person (even if I want to be). My internal clock just wants to be a night owl. Plus there’s something so special about how a sunset just gets better and better as it goes on. This sunset was unreal as we watched the waves break over the reef in the distance, and enjoyed the perfectly calm lagoon inside the reef with so many fish and eagle rays swimming by!📸 @saltyluxe @chesh.creative#moorea #mooreaisland #frenchpolynesia #frenchpolynesianislands #travelsunset #tropicalsunset #tropicaltravel #saltyluxe #saltyluxepresets #theinfluencerbootcamp #bucketlistadventures #bucketlisttravel #femaletraveler #femaletravelblogger
    THIS IS YOUR REMINDER THAT SOCIAL MEDIA ISN’T AL THIS IS YOUR REMINDER THAT SOCIAL MEDIA ISN’T ALL WHAT IT SEEMS 🌊I love sharing on Instagram, I really do, but it’s easy to forget as a consumer of content that social media is a highlight reel. While it may look like I’m in an exotic destination every day, chances are I’m likely at home or working my tail off at one of my many jobs.But I choose to romanticize every part of my life, and I love sharing my free time with friends, dancing, at yoga, visiting farmer’s markets, watching the sunset. Even though it’s not “exotic” or traveling, I am creating peace within myself and enjoying the company of others. I prioritize free time when I can and try to make it something special, and I try to say “yes” as much as possible.So don’t feel bad if you’re not traveling year round. Don’t feel bad if you can’t take luxury trips or live the digital nomad life. Try to remember to romanticize every little moment, so you can find peace within and happiness even in the mundane.How do you spend your free time? ❤️#travelreality #reeltraveller #travelblog #floridalivin #floridalife #floridavibes #travelvibe #oceanvibe #staugustinebeach
    Manatee are some of the most peaceful animals, so Manatee are some of the most peaceful animals, so much so that even sharks and alligators don’t bother them! If you need a little extra peace on this Monday, stay a while 💕 have you ever seen a manatee?#manatee #floridatravel #adventuretravel #ecotravel #tropicaltravel #floridamanatee #visitflorida
    If you’re looking for a sign to visit French Pol If you’re looking for a sign to visit French Polynesia, this is it! Tag a friend you’d like to take to Mo’orea! 🌺Mo’orea is a small island in the Tahitian island chain that is a tropical paradise. From whales to waterfalls, sailing, coral reefs, and the clearest water you’ve ever seen in your life, you definitely need to add Mo’orea to your tropical travel bucket list!#moorea #frenchpolynesia #frenchpolynesianislands #mooreaisland #tropicaldestination #tropicaltravel #saltyluxeretreat #saltyluxe #travelbucketlist #tropicalisland #islandtravel #islandvibes #frenchpolynesianislands #travelinspired #grouptravel
    Happy International Women’s Day to all the lovel Happy International Women’s Day to all the lovely ladies of the world! And a big thank you to all these ladies who have been such great friends, leaders, and support for me. Of course I can’t fit everyone in these pictures, but I love all you ladies (you know who you are) 💕#internationalwomensday #girlswhotraveltheworld #travelgirlsgo #saltyluxe #saltyluxepresets #tropicaltravel #tropicalvibes #oceanvibes #womensday2023 #femaletraveler #femaletravelinspo #femaletravelblogger #femaletravellers

    Copyright © 2023 Tea N' Sea Travel · Theme by 17th Avenue

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
    Privacy & Cookies Policy

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
    Necessary
    Always Enabled

    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

    Non-necessary

    Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.

    SAVE & ACCEPT
     

    Loading Comments...