28th annual Nights of Lights begins with Light-Up! Night

The City of St. Augustine kicks-off the 28th annual Nights of Lights season on Saturday, Nov. 20, with a Showtime USA dance troupe performance followed by the All Star Orchestra. 

The lighting of the city’s holiday tree and canopy of live oak trees around the Plaza de la Constitución begins promptly at 6:30 p.m. The Nights of Lights continues through Jan. 30.

Here’s the Light-Up! Night schedule:

• 4 p.m. Showtime USA, Parque de Menendez, St. Augustine City Hall, 75 King St.
• 5:30 p.m. All Star Orchestra, Gazebo, Plaza de la Constitución
• 6:30 p.m. Lighting Ceremony, Gazebo, Plaza de la Constitución

Turning the switch to light the city’s tree will be Jennifer Wills, program coordinator for Care Connect+, the social health organization of Flagler Health+. 

Dr. Javier Aduen, a critical care physician who leads the intensive care provider group at Flagler Hospital, will turn the big switch to light the city.

The City of St. Augustine is once again offering a free park-and-ride shuttle during Light-Up! Night and on peak Nights of Lights dates.

The shuttle service will continue Nov. 26 and 27 and then every Saturday in December — except Christmas Day — and the five days following Christmas.  In consideration of the Christmas Parade on Dec. 4, shuttle operations will begin at 8 a.m.

Here’s a look at the parking locations out of which shuttles will operate:

North of downtown

• Johns County Health Department, 200 San Sebastian View
• The San Marco Lot, 301 San Marco Ave.

Times: 1-11 p.m. Drop off and pick up at Visitor Information Center, 10 S. Castillo Drive.

West of downtown

• Broudy’s lot, 198 and 212 W. King St.

Times: 1-11 p.m. Drop off and pick up at Visitor Information Center, 10 S. Castillo Drive.

Light-Up! Night Special Island Shuttle

• Anastasia Baptist Church, 1650 A1A South
• Augustine Amphitheatre, 1340-C A1A South
• B. Hunt Elementary, 125 Magnolia Drive

Times: 4-11 p.m. Drop off and pick up at east end of Bridge of Lions.

Road closures and restricted parking

• Cathedral Place, Cordova Street to Avenida Menendez. Parking prohibited all day; street closed to vehicles 5-8 p.m.
• King Street, Cordova Street to Avenida Menendez. Parking prohibited all day; street closed as determined by police to ensure pedestrian safety.

In the event of any changes in the program, updates will be posted at CityStAug.com and on the City of St. Augustine Facebook page at Facebook.com/CityStAug.

Traffic updates and road closures will be posted on the St. Augustine Police Department Facebook page at Facebook.com/StAugPD.

For more information about the Nights of Lights season, go to NightsofLights.com.