1. Nights of Lights | St. Augustine, FL


St. Augustine bedecks its historic downtown in all-white lights for its Nights of Lights, leaning on the old Spanish tradition of a white candle in the window. Head to Plaza de la Constitución, a market where locals have sold goods since the 1500s, to hear live music and tour the palm trees wrapped in bulbs. Ropes of lights drape from the market’s trees to form a heavenly canopy. Visitors can see the three million lights by land via the Old Town Trolley or Ripley’s Red Train, both free, or by sea, on a boat tour from a variety of tour companies.
Special events include the Surf Illumination on November 22, Christmas Parade on December 6 and the Regatta of Lights on December 13, along with other festive offerings like the Grinchmas Ride (on a trolley with the Grinch) and the Christmas Market at Colonial Quarter. Fun challenge: find the single red light hidden somewhere in the Plaza de la Constitución!
Dates: November 15, 2025, through January 11, 2026
Price: Free; no tickets required.