Thousands Flock to St. Augustine's Dazzling Nights of Lights Celebration

On Saturday, November 11, 2025, thousands of people crowded downtown St. Augustine to attend the city's annual Nights of Lights celebration. The event, which has been a beloved tradition for years, featured the iconic lighting display that transforms the historic city into a winter wonderland.

Despite the implementation of new safety barriers, a $40 downtown garage fee, and increased law enforcement presence, many visitors reported that the changes did not detract from their overall experience. First-time attendee Lorraine Rivera said, "It wasn't as bad as I thought it was gonna be; we were able to find something, so it was good." Another first-time visitor, Deborah Kannel, shared her excitement, describing the event as "absolutely amazing" and "absolutely fantastic."

While city officials had expected a large turnout, some longtime attendees noted that this year's kickoff felt slightly less crowded than in previous years. Dominic Anderson, who has been coming to the event for 25 years, said, "It's a pretty big crowd, but not the biggest." Others, like Sarah Zuk, felt that the new traffic and safety measures made the event feel more organized compared to past years, stating, "I felt more organized even though it wasn't early. It was very organized."

The excitement was palpable, with children and adults alike expressing their delight at the dazzling lights. One young attendee, Alejandro Posso, simply said, "It feels amazing," while his sister, Anastasia, declared, "The Tree" as the best part of the night.

As the lights were turned on at 6:30 p.m., many visitors reported that the event was a success, with traffic flowing smoothly despite the high turnout. City leaders stated that they will review the effectiveness of the new safety measures and expect to have a more accurate crowd count by Monday.