St. Augustine Nights of Lights 2026-27: Dates, Free Parking and Shuttle Days

St. Augustine switches on its holiday lights on Saturday, Nov. 21, 2026, and they stay on through Monday, Jan. 18, 2027. That is the 33rd year of Nights of Lights, and it is a short drive up A1A or I-95 from Palm Coast. I have put together the practical details so you can plan one evening instead of sitting in traffic.

The dates and what is free

The festival runs from the weekend before Thanksgiving through Martin Luther King Jr. weekend. Walking downtown to see the lights costs nothing, and no ticket is needed. The city says more than three million white lights cover rooftops, live oaks and the Bridge of Lions. The tradition started in 1993 and was inspired by the Spanish custom of putting a white candle in a window at Christmas.

National Geographic named it one of the world's top 10 holiday light displays in 2011 and 2012.

Light-Up Night, Nov. 21

Opening night is the biggest crowd of the season. Per Visit St. Augustine, the ceremony starts at 4:00 p.m. at the Plaza de la Constitución and the lights come on around 6:30 p.m. If you want to be there, plan to arrive early and expect to walk.

Parking and free shuttles

Parking is the part that catches people off guard. The city lists three free lots for the 2026-27 season: the St. Johns County Health Department lot at 200 San Sebastian View, Broudy's lot at 198 West King Street, and the San Marco lot at 301 San Marco Avenue. Free shuttles run from there to the Visitor Information Center on these days:

• Light-Up Night, Nov. 21, from 4:00 to 11:00 p.m.
• Christmas Parade, Dec. 5, from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
• 21 busy days from 1:00 to 11:00 p.m., including Nov. 27-28, Dec. 4, Dec. 11-13, Dec. 18-24, Dec. 26-31 and Jan. 1-2.

Light-Up Night also has a free park-and-ride from Anastasia Island, at Anastasia Baptist Church and R.B. Hunt Elementary. You walk across the Bridge of Lions into town. The downtown parking garage charges $40 after 1:00 p.m. on shuttle days and $20 for the day otherwise.

Ways to see the lights

Most people walk the Plaza and the bayfront. You can also ride a trolley, red train, golf cart or pedi-cab with holiday music, or see the lights from a boat. Most guided tours charge a fee, so book the date you want ahead of time. The city and tour pages mark Dec. 5 (Christmas Parade) and Dec. 12 (Regatta of Lights, 6:00 p.m.) as heavy-traffic days.

If you want a calmer night, pick a weeknight in early December. I have not seen an official crowd forecast, so that is my local guess, not a published number.

Why it matters if you are thinking about a move

I get asked about St. Augustine often by people comparing it with Palm Coast and Flagler Beach. A winter evening downtown, then a quiet drive home to the Flagler coast, is how a lot of my clients get to know the area. If you are weighing the two, I have a page on the area at St. Augustine homes and neighborhoods, and I am glad to walk you through how prices and costs compare.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Nights of Lights free?

Yes. Walking downtown to see the lights is free. Guided tours on trolleys, trains, golf carts and boats charge their own fees.

When do the lights come on each night?

Visit St. Augustine says they turn on daily at 5:30 p.m. and stay on past 2:00 a.m. Light-Up Night is the exception to plan around, with the main switch-on around 6:30 p.m.

Is there an app?

The festival has a Nights of Lights app with parking, shuttle, map and event information. It was introduced in 2025.

If you would like to see homes in St. Augustine or compare them with what is on the Flagler coast, call or text me at (386) 627-3612 and we will pick a time. You can start with the St. Augustine area page.