Nights of Lights 2026-27: Plan Your St. Augustine Visit Before the Crowds Do

If you live within an hour of St. Augustine, you already know how this goes. Someone's cousin visits in December, someone says "let's see the lights," and suddenly you're circling downtown at 6 p.m. on a Saturday.

The 2026-27 shuttle and parking details are out, and a little planning now makes the whole thing easier. Here's what's confirmed and how to approach it.

The 2026-27 dates

St. Augustine's Nights of Lights runs Saturday, Nov. 21, 2026, through Monday, Jan. 18, 2027. It's the festival's 33rd year. Viewing the lights is free, and no tickets are required.

The season ends on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, so the final weekend is a three-day weekend. Expect that one to be busy.

Light-Up! Night: Saturday, Nov. 21

• 4 p.m.: Pre-ceremony entertainment starts on King Street near City Hall and the Lightner Museum.
• 5:30 p.m.: Holiday dance performances in front of City Hall, and big band and swing music at the Plaza de la Constitución gazebo.
• 6:30 p.m.: The lighting ceremony in the Plaza.
• 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.: The concert continues after the lights come on.

Several downtown streets close before and during the event. On Light-Up! Night only, extra shuttles run from 4 to 11 p.m. from two Anastasia Island lots, Anastasia Baptist Church (1650 A1A South) and R.B. Hunt Elementary (125 Magnolia Dr.). They drop you on the island side of the Bridge of Lions, and you walk across into town.

The free Park & Ride shuttle

Park free outside the historic district, ride a free shuttle in, and ride it back to your car. All shuttles drop off and pick up at the Visitor Information Center, 10 S. Castillo Drive.

Free lots:

• Broudy's Lot, 198 W. King St.
• North San Marco Lot, 301 San Marco Ave.
• St. Johns County Health Department, 200 San Sebastian View

Shuttle days, per the City of St. Augustine:

• November: 21, 27, 28
• December: 4, 5, 11, 12, 13, 18 through 24, and 26 through 31
• January: 1, 2

The city lists hours of 1 to 11 p.m. On Dec. 5, the day of the Christmas Parade, shuttles start at 8 a.m. The visitor bureau's page shows slightly different hours and dates, and says New Year's Eve service runs only for the St. Augustine Beach fireworks, so check the city's shuttle page or the Nights of Lights app before you go.

Two big December Saturdays

• Christmas Parade: Saturday, Dec. 5. The parade runs downtown in the morning, and free shuttles start early that day, at 8 a.m.
• Regatta of Lights: Saturday, Dec. 12. Decorated boats parade along the bayfront in the evening. It's a shuttle day, so leave the car at a free lot.

Both draw big crowds. If you'd rather have a quiet walk, pick a different night.

If you drive downtown

There's one public garage downtown, the Historic Downtown Parking Facility. On shuttle days it costs $40 after 1 p.m. Before 1 p.m., and on days the shuttles don't run, it's $20 for the day. St. Johns County residents registered with ParkStAug don't pay that fee, though registering doesn't guarantee a space. If you're a county resident, register before the season starts.

Some neighborhoods near downtown have resident-only street parking in the evenings, so read the signs before you leave the car.

Coming from the beach side

During the season, the STAR circulator runs a loop on Anastasia Island starting at 5 p.m., between the Bridge of Lions and the Quality Inn & Suites at 901 A1A Beach Blvd. Everyone gets off near the bridge and walks across, which is a nice way to see the lights. It doesn't run on New Year's Eve.

Pick your night like a local

Your date matters more than your route.

Weeknights are calmer. Monday through Thursday usually means lighter traffic, easier parking, and shorter waits at restaurants.

Light-Up! Night is an event, not a quiet stroll. It's fun, and it's the most crowded night to be downtown. Arrive early.

The weeks around Christmas and New Year's are the hardest. If your guests are only in town that week, a weeknight earlier in December may be a better trade.

Go late. The lights stay on until 2 a.m., according to the visitor bureau, so a walk after the dinner crowd clears out is an option.

Ways to see the lights

Walking is the main event. If you want a different view, the visitor bureau lists land tours (trolleys, golf carts, electric vehicles, private walking tours), water tours (boat cruises and catamarans), and helicopter rides. Tours have their own fees and schedules, so book directly with the operator, and book early for peak weeks.

Good to know

• Download the Nights of Lights app. It has shuttle and parking information, and it shows where restrooms are. The city adds about 70 portable toilets downtown on the busiest nights.
• If you're coming from Nocatee, Ponte Vedra, or Jacksonville, build in extra drive time on weekends, and pick a shuttle lot, not "downtown," as your meeting point.

A quick planning checklist

1. Choose your night, and a backup. Check that it's a shuttle day if you plan to ride.
2. County resident? Register with ParkStAug before Nov. 21.
3. Download the Nights of Lights app.
4. Book any tour or lodging early if you're hosting guests.
5. Plan dinner before or after the walk, not during the peak crowd.

Bottom line

The lights are free, the dates are set, and the shuttle schedule is out. Pick a weeknight if you can, use the free shuttle on the busy nights, and save the $40 garage fee for something better.

Have a favorite spot, tour, or tip for Nights of Lights? Send it my way. I'm collecting the ones locals actually use.

Details come from the City of St. Augustine and the visitor bureau as of Oct. 27, 2026, and can change. Confirm with the official sources before you go.