City filled with holiday spirit

SAINT AUGUSTINE – The City of St. Augustine announces a variety of special upcoming events for the holidays.

Popular holiday events now accepting applications

Organizations, businesses, community and school groups wishing to participate in the annual St. Augustine Christmas Parade, scheduled for Saturday, December 7, should contact the event organizer Linda Abbott at 904.824.4997.

The St. Augustine Yacht Club will once again produce the Holiday Regatta of Lights Boat Parade in Matanzas Bay along the city’s bayfront on the second Saturday in December. Sailboats, trawlers, sport-fishermen, and other vessels are invited to decorate with holiday lights and participate.

The event is scheduled for 6:00pm on Saturday, December 14.  For more information, visit the St. Augustine Yacht Club website.

Event may cause slight traffic disruption December 7

A torchlight parade will start at the Castillo de San Marcos at 7:00pm and cross Avenida Menendez through the City Gate, then proceed south on St. George Street, crossing Cathedral Pl., to Government House.

The public is invited to follow along St. George St. to the Government House where the Mayor of St. Augustine will welcome those assembled. After the troops have fired three Volleys of Joy from their muskets, the units will be dismissed and those left in attendance are invited to join in a sing-along of old-time Christmas Carols.

St. George Street between King and Cathedral will be closed between 7:15pm and 8:00pm.  There will be a slight traffic interruption on Avenida Menendez when they cross from Castillo to City Gate.

Complete details of the entire day’s events are available at the Colonial Night Watch web page.

Service continues tonight, tomorrow, and Saturdays in December

Last Saturday, the free park and ride shuttle returned for Light-Up! Night, the kick-off celebration of the Nights of Lights, to more than 3600 total passengers using the service.  Between the two parking locations at the north end of the city and two parking locations on Anastasia Island, over 1200 vehicles did not travel into the downtown area for this popular annual event.

The Anastasia Island service, which is only offered on Light-Up! Night, maintained its ridership of approximately 957 passengers this year; however, the north loop shuttles saw an increase this year of 125% since its first year of service in 2016 – an initial 1190 passengers in 2016, up to 2680 passengers last Saturday.

With funding support from the St. Johns County Tourist Development Council, the City of St. Augustine is pleased to again offer this free park and ride shuttle on the peak dates of the Nights of Lights.  The 26th anniversary season of the Nights of Lights continues through February 2, 2020.

For a calendar of events and visitor information, visit www.NightsofLights.com.

Information for the park and ride shuttle is available at www.CityStAug.com.