‘Tis the season to enjoy holiday events. To submit your event, please email totallystaugustine@gmail.com
Nights of Lights
Nov. 14, 2020-Jan. 31, 2021: The City of St. Augustine glows with more than 3 million white lights — an event that was recognized by National Geographic as one of the Top 10 lights displays in the world! The lights come on at sunset every evening. From trolley rides, by helicopter, on boat tours, horse & carriage rides, pub crawls, and food tours — see the city in many ways, all lit up during the holiday season. The best part? Stroll or drive through the lights for FREE! More event details in the story below:
Nov. 14-Jan. 31: St. Augustine Attractions offer Nights of Lights options!
Very Merry Nights of Lights Scavenger Hunt
Chanukah Helicopter Gelt Drop & Light Show
Dec. 10: Jewish St. Johns County and the Nocatee Community will host the Chanukah Helicopter Gelt Drop & Light Show from 6 to 9:30 p.m. Thursday, December 10 at Nocatee Spray Park. The helicopter drop will feature parachuting dreidels, menorahs, and 2,500 chocolate coins raining down from the sky!
A Chanukah Light Show, Menorah Lighting Ceremony, glowing Menorahs, doughnuts, and more.
The menorah lighting will take place at 6:20 p.m. and is free to the community. Families are asked to stay socially distant, with a special area for ages 55 and older. There is also a drive-in option for those who would like to celebrate from their own car. See the Facebook event here
St. Augustine Orchestra at Lightner Museum
Dec. 11-12: Celebrate the season and join the St. Augustine Orchestra for two nights of holiday cheer at the Lightner Museum.Enjoy festive music as the orchestra performs throughout the museum.
Tour the museum | Shop for unique holiday gifts | Gift-wrapping available | Enjoy drinks on the terrace
Friday, December 11th & Saturday, December 12th
6:30 P.M. to 8:30 P.M.
General Admission: $25
17 and under: $15
A Charlie Brown Christmas
Dec. 11-13: Limelight Theatre’s Education Program offers a nostalgic live performance of Charlie Brown Christmas, on stage December 11-13 at 11 Old Mission Ave., St. Augustine FL 32084. Socially distanced seating and masks are required. Tickets: limelight-theatre.org
St. Augustine Beach Holiday Night Market
Dec. 12: Bring the whole family to the first annual Holiday Market at the St. Augustine Beach Pier from 4 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday, December 12 at the St. Johns County Ocean Pier, 350 A1A Beach Blvd., St. Augustine Beach. The market, organized by the Wednesday Pier Farmers Market, will offer gift wrapping for your one-of a-kind purchases. Capture the family fun in a Grinch-themed photo booth, discover delicious treats to take home, all while enjoying hot chocolate and the vibrant light displays at Pier Park. Special appearances by Kilo from the St. Augustine Beach Police Department and visits with Santa Claus! This is a FREE event. More details: www.sabevents.com/
St. Augustine Aquarium – Underwater Santa, Mermaids, Snow + More!
Dec. 12 and Dec. 19: One of the most kid-friendly holiday events in the area, the St. Augustine Aquarium hosts Nights of Lights Under the Sea with two time slots each night on Dec. 12 and Dec. 19 — from 5 to 6:30 p.m. and 6:3o to 8 p.m. Call 904-429-9777 for reservations.
The event will include Underwater Santa Claus swimming with the fish, Mermaids meet-and-greet and photo ops, Mermaid Candy Candy Chute, SNOW, Sharks and Rays Feedings, Touch Tank with Starfish and Horseshoe Crabs. Visit www.saaquarium.com
W.B. Tatter Studio Gallery – Outdoor Holiday Bazaar
Dec. 13: St. Augustine batik artist Wendy Tatter will hold an outdoor holiday event from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, December 13 in the parking lot at W.B. Tatter Studio Gallery, 501 Anastasia Blvd., St. Augustine FL 32080, on Anastasia Island. Available at the event: Batik artwork (painting with wax and dyes on fabric), jewelry by MJ. Johnson, pottery by Toni DeWitt, Debbie Tunstall, and Celeste Cohen, and metal art by John Martini and R.J.Higgins. Call 904-907-1270 or visit wbtattergallery.com
Holiday Pops with the Jacksonville Symphony
Dec. 16: Local nonprofit, EMMA Concert Association, is proud to announce the live musical performance of traditional Holiday Pops presented by select members of the Jacksonville Symphony brass ensemble and vocalists. Enjoy an evening of traditional holiday tunes, including the “Nutcracker March,” “White Christmas,” “O Holy Night,” “Jingle Bells,” and much more. The EMMA Holiday Pops Concert will be held on Wednesday, December 16, from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Lewis Auditorium at Flagler College, 14 Granada Street in downtown St. Augustine. This event is sure to be one that puts you in the holiday spirit, with live musical performances of your favorite holiday classics from vocalists Erica Gabriel and Brandon Michael Nase with Ileana Fernandez on piano. This will be EMMA Concert Association’s only live performance during its 42nd Season. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, seating is limited and strict safety protocols will be put in-place. Tickets: emmaconcerts.com
Menorah Lighting at World Golf Village
A Christmas Story
Dec. 18-20: Celebrate the holidays with hilarity and Apex Theatre Studio this December! On Friday, December 18 through Sunday, December 20, Apex Theatre Studio will present “A Christmas Story,” a full-length comedy based on the beloved film at the Ponte Vedra Concert Hall. Limited capacity tickets for Apex Theatre Studio presents “A Christmas Story” are on sale at the Ponte Vedra Concert Hall box office and on Ticketmaster.com
- Apex Theatre Studio presents “A Christmas Story”
- Friday, December 18 – Doors: 6:30 p.m. / Performance: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, December 19 – Doors 6:30 p.m. / Performance 7:30 p.m. Sunday, December 20 – Doors: 1:00 p.m. / Performance 2:00 p.m.
- $32.00 – Reserved Seating
- www.apextheatrejax.com; www.pvconcerthall.com
St. Augustine Beach Art walk and Shop & Dine the Beach
Dec. 19: Take a stroll down A1A Beach Boulevard and visit local artists in various locations including: Embassy Suites Hotel, LYMI, The Art Studio, 14th and 10th Street parkettes, Café 11, Coneheads Ice Cream Shop, The Sunshine Shop, Kookaburra and more! The Beach Art Walk will take place from 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday, December 19 in various locations St. Augustine Beach.
In association with the Art Studio of St. Augustine Beach, this event will feature artists and artisans with many diverse items — from paintings, photography, prints, pottery, sculpture, jewelry and stained glass and local authors.
Holiday themed pieces as well as affordable gift items will be available — all handmade, all local. Many local businesses are offering something special during the event, from hosting artists, special sales, and even entertainment, there is something for everyone.
We invite everyone to participate in the festivities, so join us this holiday season and let’s Light Up the BEACH! Events: https://www.sabevents.com/
The party scene of the St. Augustine Ballet’s Nutcracker. Photo by Julie Abella Photography
The Nutcracker Ballet
Dec. 18-20: Saint Augustine Ballet presents the 12th Annual Nutcracker to the community — a timeless classic featuring area dance students. This holiday favorite will be staged December 18-20, 2020 in Lewis Auditorium at Flagler College, 14 Granada St., downtown St. Augustine. Seating is safely socially distanced, with a limited number of tickets available in advance for each performance. Show times are 7 p.m. Friday, December 18; 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, December 19; and 2 p.m. Sunday, December 20, 2020. Tickets are $35, $45 to $50, available at saintaugustineballet.com or by calling 855-222-2849.
Swamp Radio Virtual Live Radio Show – Fundraiser for the Florida Theatre
Dec. 22: Swamp Radio, a live radio experience celebrating all things Northeast Florida, will return for a special holiday reunion show on Tuesday, December 22 at 7:30 p.m. at the Florida Theatre via live Zoom broadcast. The show’s proceeds will go toward the Florida Theatre Worker Relief Fund to help those impacted by a challenging year navigating the COVID-19 pandemic. During the Swamp Radio Holiday Reunion, virtual audiences will enjoy stories, songs, and interviews that celebrate the holidays on the First Coast. A full cast of artist contributors are slated to perform. Best of Jax award-winning comedian Derek Coghlan will share a hilarious and moving tale of his family’s Christmas morning hijinks. Author Teri Youmans Grimm’s memories of Bing Crosby and David Bowie will promote a message of holiday unity, and St. Augustine novelist Laura Lee Smith’s cherished Christmas memories are bound to get audiences in the seasonal spirit. The fan-favorite Swamp Lady will also return with advice for getting through the holiday season.
Virtual tickets for the Swamp Radio Holiday Reunion will go on sale Monday, November 23 for a suggested donation of $25.00. To purchase, visit swampradiojax.com.
JSL New Year’s Eve Midnight Masquerade
Dec. 31: Usher in the new year at an outdoor event hosted by the Junior Service League of St. Augustine. A New Year’s Eve Midnight Masquerade will be held from 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. December 31 on the outdoor deck of St. Augustine Fish House & Oyster Company — an exclusive preview event for this newly-renovated restaurant, the former location of Creekside Dinery, at 160 Nix Boat Yard Road, St. Augustine.
The New Year’s Eve Midnight Masquerade will include an open bar, live music by popular band The Paper City Hustlers, heavy appetizers and desserts (served individually and plated for safety), a smores bar, and a Vannagram & Co. photo booth.
Tickets are $125 per guest and all proceeds go to help area nonprofits supported by the Junior Service League of St. Augustine. Each year, JSL provides funding for St. Augustine organizations such as the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum, Kids Bridge, Tag! Children’s Museum, and others. Tickets can be purchased at jslofstaugustine.org/about/events/gala-2/
