News of 2019 Nights of Lights

Posted on October 17, 2019 by Anne Heymen in Community, Holidays, St. Johns // 0 Comments

SAINT AUGUSTINE – During this season’s City of St. Augustine Nights of Lights, Old Town Trolley guests riding the famous Nights of Lights Trolley can vote for their favorite holiday lighting display in the Seventh Annual Light Up the Night! contest.

St. Augustine’s Nights of Lights is the world-renowned holiday lights display that runs from Saturday, Nov.23, to Friday, Jan.31. The event is spotlighted by global audiences and voted as one of the Top 10 “Best Holiday Lighting Displays in the World” by National Geographic.

St. Augustine invites all holiday visitors, residents, and local businesses to join together during the festivities and ride the Old Town Trolley’s Famous Nights of Lights tour to experience the wonderland of more than three million white twinkling lights. The Old Town Trolley’s Fast Track Pass is available to guests who want to spend less time waiting in line and more time enjoying St. Augustine’s award-winning festivities. The Fast Track Pass allows guests to pre-select a reserved check-in time and access a separate line with a shorter wait time. Fast Track Pass admission is good for up to one hour following the reserved time. For more information, visit the website at www.trolleytours.com or www.trustedtours.com for tickets, or call (904) 829-3800.

During the tour, guests will be offered complimentary hot apple cider, homemade cookies and the 3D viewing glasses which dramatically illustrate the city’s lights and decorations while listening and caroling to holiday music favorites on the trolleys. Additionally, trolley guests can vote for their favorite holiday lighting displays at www.trolleytours.com/holidaylightcontest. The link for voting will be active beginning Dec. 1, 2019 and continue through Jan. 31, 2020.
BUSINESS AWARDS

Guests of Old Town Trolley will help to decide which three businesses are to receive awards for having the best lighting displays in St. Augustine to win cash and prizes. Last year, the Holiday Light Display Contest Visitor Choice Awards winners included first place winner Meehan’s Irish Pub & Seafood House, 20 Avenida Menendez, second place winner Hilton St. Augustine Historic Bayfront, 32 Avenida Menendez, and third place winner Casablanca Inn On The Bay, 24 Avenida Menendez.

Additionally, Old Town Trolley Tours and INK! (Investing in Kids) are pleased to announce the family entertainment schedule during this year’s celebration at Nights of Lights. INK! Executive Director Donna Lueders and St. Johns County Fine Arts Program Specialist Antonio Scott along with Old Town Trolley cast members have scheduled a lineup of local talent for this year’s entertainment. “The experiences for students being able to perform outside of a normal school setting is priceless,” said Lueders. “INK! is honored to help coordinate the efforts to show off the incredible talent that is in our schools,” she said.

Beginning Sunday, Nov. 24 through Tuesday, Dec,31, from 6-8 p.m., Old Town Trolley and INK! Investing in Kids presents free entertainment with St. Johns County school groups and local musical acts hosted at the City of St. Augustine Visitor Information Center on select nights (see below for schedule). Guests are welcome to the free holiday entertainment while in queue for trolley tours. The performance venue is located at the corner of W. Castillo Dr. and San Marco Ave., 10 W. Castillo Drive in downtown St. Augustine.

The entertainment schedule is as follows –

November 24: St. Johns County Center of the Arts (7SJCCA) Chamber Singers

November 29: Florida Brass Quintet

November 30: St Augustine High School Orchestra

December 1: Florida Brass Quintet

December 6: Double Headliners:

Landrum Middle School Jazz Band and

Fruit Cove Middle School Jazz Band

December 7: Ponte Vedra High School Jazz Band

December 8: St Augustine High School Jazz Band

December 13: Nease High School Chorus

December 14: Ponte Vedra High School Drum Line