St. Augustine’s Nights of Lights returns November 21, illuminating the historic city with more than 3 million lights through January 18, 2027. Along with the annual celebration, visitors will have an upgraded version of the free Nights of Lights app, which earned a Bronze Flagler Award for Websites at VISIT FLORIDA’s 2026 Flagler Awards after nearly 90,000 downloads during its first season. The app puts maps, parking, shuttle information, events and visitor tips in one place, helping travelers navigate one of Florida’s most popular holiday traditions.

For the 2026 season, the app adds a new search function for restaurants, attractions, events and live music, a visual display of parking availability and redesigned maps, with additional features expected in October. The festival itself begins with Light-Up! Night in the Plaza de la Constitución, where the city’s historic core is illuminated for the season. Visitors can also use the app to explore different ways of experiencing the lights, from boats and trolleys to helicopters and the St. Augustine Lighthouse, while extending their stay to explore the surrounding Florida’s Historic Coast.

The Curated Take

Nights of Lights is already a visual spectacle, but the practical reality of visiting a historic city during a major holiday event can be considerably less magical. The app addresses that gap by treating logistics as part of the travel experience, helping visitors figure out where to park, how to get around and what to do once they arrive. For travelers planning a holiday getaway rather than simply an evening visit, that ability to move beyond the lights and discover dining, attractions and experiences across St. Augustine makes the technology particularly useful.