Many Florida towns get dressed up for the holidays, but there’s one in particular that becomes truly magical this time of year: St. Augustine. It’s truly the best winter town in Florida, making for one of the sweetest and most memorable experiences come Christmastime. Family friendly and fun for all, this is one local event you simply don’t want to miss!
No matter how many times you’ve visited before, if you’ve never visited St. Augustine during the city’s Nights of Lights celebration, then you’re missing out.
Flickr/Joe Ross
We love walking the historic streets of our nation’s oldest city when it becomes a winter wonderland, covered in millions of white lights. Isn’t this one of the best places to visit in winter in Florida? You can almost forget how warm it gets outside!
Flickr/Mike Gigante
There are plenty of ways to see the lights, too. A horse-drawn carriage ride is a romantic and intimate way to experience the festival with that special someone.
Flickr/Ron Lute
The lights are twice as lovely reflecting on the water, which can be viewed with a scenic moonlit boat tour. A true winter wonderland town in Florida, there’s no end to the magic.
Flickr/Paladin27
Our favorite fun and family-friendly way to see the lights is a trolley tour. Where else can you get an intimate experience in the heart of wintry, holiday happy Florida? It’s St. Augustine, folks. It takes the cake, every year.
Old Town Facebook/Trolley Tours of St. Augustine
Guests receive special glasses that make the lights even more magical, along with cookies and apple cider.
Old Town Facebook/Trolley Tours of St. Augustine
Of course, you can always take a walking tour or just walk through the city at your own pace, checking out the shops and restaurants that stay open late for the festival. Make sure check updated dates and times, since this annual festival experiences a fluctuation in scheduling each year. You don’t want to miss out on the best winter town in Florida!
Flickr/Joe Ross
Are you ready to plan your visit to this winter wonderland town in Florida? You can see the lights nightly from late November through January, though you’ll want to check the updated schedule for your new annual tradition.
Flickr/Joe Ross
Flickr/Mike Gigante
Flickr/Ron Lute
Flickr/Paladin27
Old Town Facebook/Trolley Tours of St. Augustine
Here are a few of the companies offering Nights of Lights tours:
Carriage rides: Wine and Carriage Tour, 904-325-3911.
Boat tours: Scenic Cruise Nights of Lights Tours, (904) 824-1806.
Trolley tours: Old Town Trolley Holiday Tours, no reservations needed.
These are just a few of the many tour options available in the city, so you’re sure to find something fun for the whole family.
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Address: St. Augustine, FL, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
Best Christmas Events In Florida October 19, 2019 Meghan Kraft What other places are the most festive towns in Florida? Florida may have a tropical climate, but this sunny state still knows how to celebrate the holidays with the best of them. After heading to St. Augustine, perhaps head down to Safety Harbor, Florida, or hit up Jacksonville for fun holiday activities. Downtown Tampa also knows how to celebrate the holidays with gusto, as well as Inverness, New Smyrna Beach and Daytona Beach. Fun and festive, each city offers up light extravaganzas and Christmas festivals you won’t want to miss. What are the best things to do for Christmas in Florida? Locals in Lake Buena Vista love to spend time at ICE! At Gaylord Palms, a winter wonderland that takes place over the course of five weeks. Head on over to the Annual St. Augustine Christmas Parade for the Nights of Lights celebration, or indulge in a weekend at the Annual Key West Holiday Fest that begins in late November and continues until late December. Jolly Days at the Brevard Zoo combines your favorite animals with holiday fun, and you won’t want to miss Santa’s Enchanted Forest in Miami. What a thrill! What kinds of activities can I do in winter in Florida? Since winter in Florida is incredibly temperate, it’s easy to keep up with your favorite fun activities while adding a few chilly weather newbies into the mix. Maybe head to a hockey game to watch the Florida Panthers or the Tampa Bay Lightning duke it out with teams from out of state, or head to the wintry Florida Strawberry Festival that works hard to keep the taste of summer alive and well. In February, the Siesta Key Craft Festival is well worth a visit, and we’ll always recommend catching a basketball game or taking an afternoon to yourself at the Key West Aquarium.
The OIYS Visitor Center
Best Christmas Events In Florida
October 19, 2019
Meghan Kraft
What other places are the most festive towns in Florida? Florida may have a tropical climate, but this sunny state still knows how to celebrate the holidays with the best of them. After heading to St. Augustine, perhaps head down to Safety Harbor, Florida, or hit up Jacksonville for fun holiday activities. Downtown Tampa also knows how to celebrate the holidays with gusto, as well as Inverness, New Smyrna Beach and Daytona Beach. Fun and festive, each city offers up light extravaganzas and Christmas festivals you won’t want to miss. What are the best things to do for Christmas in Florida? Locals in Lake Buena Vista love to spend time at ICE! At Gaylord Palms, a winter wonderland that takes place over the course of five weeks. Head on over to the Annual St. Augustine Christmas Parade for the Nights of Lights celebration, or indulge in a weekend at the Annual Key West Holiday Fest that begins in late November and continues until late December. Jolly Days at the Brevard Zoo combines your favorite animals with holiday fun, and you won’t want to miss Santa’s Enchanted Forest in Miami. What a thrill! What kinds of activities can I do in winter in Florida? Since winter in Florida is incredibly temperate, it’s easy to keep up with your favorite fun activities while adding a few chilly weather newbies into the mix. Maybe head to a hockey game to watch the Florida Panthers or the Tampa Bay Lightning duke it out with teams from out of state, or head to the wintry Florida Strawberry Festival that works hard to keep the taste of summer alive and well. In February, the Siesta Key Craft Festival is well worth a visit, and we’ll always recommend catching a basketball game or taking an afternoon to yourself at the Key West Aquarium.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
Florida may have a tropical climate, but this sunny state still knows how to celebrate the holidays with the best of them. After heading to St. Augustine, perhaps head down to Safety Harbor, Florida, or hit up Jacksonville for fun holiday activities. Downtown Tampa also knows how to celebrate the holidays with gusto, as well as Inverness, New Smyrna Beach and Daytona Beach. Fun and festive, each city offers up light extravaganzas and Christmas festivals you won’t want to miss.
What are the best things to do for Christmas in Florida?
Locals in Lake Buena Vista love to spend time at ICE! At Gaylord Palms, a winter wonderland that takes place over the course of five weeks. Head on over to the Annual St. Augustine Christmas Parade for the Nights of Lights celebration, or indulge in a weekend at the Annual Key West Holiday Fest that begins in late November and continues until late December. Jolly Days at the Brevard Zoo combines your favorite animals with holiday fun, and you won’t want to miss Santa’s Enchanted Forest in Miami. What a thrill!
What kinds of activities can I do in winter in Florida?
Since winter in Florida is incredibly temperate, it’s easy to keep up with your favorite fun activities while adding a few chilly weather newbies into the mix. Maybe head to a hockey game to watch the Florida Panthers or the Tampa Bay Lightning duke it out with teams from out of state, or head to the wintry Florida Strawberry Festival that works hard to keep the taste of summer alive and well. In February, the Siesta Key Craft Festival is well worth a visit, and we’ll always recommend catching a basketball game or taking an afternoon to yourself at the Key West Aquarium.
