Nights of Lights St. Augustine 2026–2027: Dates and Family or Date Plans
The City of St. Augustine has announced Nights of Lights from November 21, 2026 through January 18, 2027. The kickoff is Light-Up! Night on November 21. These dates come from the city's March 2026 announcement, not an assumption that the display runs through the end of January.
Where to build your evening
Use the Plaza de la Constitución, St. George Street, and the downtown waterfront as practical reference points. Public viewing of the display is different from paid trolley, boat, or attraction packages. Check current provider information separately for tickets and schedules. Leave additional arrival time around busy weekends.
Nights of Lights date night
Make the Foodie Adventure an afternoon activity, allowing its full 3–4 hours, rather than placing it in a 90-minute evening gap. A sample plan is Foodie from around 1–5 p.m., a break, then lights viewing after dark and optional dessert. Food and drinks are not included in the $14.99 team pass. Check restaurant hours, dietary needs, and any dinner reservations independently.
If you want a shorter date activity, choose the 90–120 minute Beginner City Hunt before dinner. Leave a buffer before lights viewing. Read our couples weekend guide for other combinations.
Nights of Lights with kids
Choose a manageable afternoon hunt and a short evening lights walk rather than a late-night marathon. The Beginner City Hunt is the featured all-ages activity; adults should help with reading, the phone, and road crossings. A sample plan is a 2–4 p.m. hunt, an early meal, then the Plaza and a nearby lights stroll after dark. Times are a planning example, not booked event slots.
Keep a warm layer, water, and a clear meeting point. Crowds and historic paving can complicate stroller or mobility-device access. Check current conditions and use a shorter route when necessary. Our family activities page includes alternatives.
Christmas in St. Augustine 2026
Christmas falls within the announced lights season. Do not assume every restaurant, attraction, or bar keeps normal hours on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. Confirm holiday opening directly and make any essential meal reservation separately. Use a public-space lights walk as the flexible part of your plan, not as evidence that every venue is open.
Parking and transport
Review current city parking and transport notices before departure. We do not assume an old shuttle timetable still applies in 2026. Allow room in the budget for parking or transport and expect more walking between your vehicle and the display. Consult the parking guide and the city's current notices.
Choose the right adventure slot
Foodie fits a long culinary date; Beginner fits families and a shorter first-time city outing. Adults considering Pub Crawl must all be 21 or older, and drinks are separate. The four regular adventures are distinct from any separately available seasonal or private game. This guide does not promise seasonal-game eligibility or a new promotion.
Before your visit
Recheck official dates, weather, operating hours, and your group's walking needs. The holiday display is outdoors; do not continue a hunt in dangerous conditions just to follow an itinerary. Browse the things-to-do hub and compare adventure duration before choosing.
Plan your Beginner City Hunt outing
Keep planning your trip
Downtown parking guide · One-day St. Augustine itinerary · Things to do in St. Augustine