Spend the holiday season with friends and family exploring all that St. Augustine has to offer! St. Johns County residents can enjoy the Old Town Trolley tour for FREE when accompanied by a full fare adult paid guest with Hometown Pass.
The Annual Great Chowder Debate features over 30 local St. Augustine restaurants competing for “Best Chowder” bragging rights in five different chowder categories: Minorcan Conch Chowder, Minorcan Clam Chowder, New England Clam Chowder, Seafood Chowder, and Non-Seafood Chowder. This event is hosted by The Conch House Marina Resort, and proceeds will benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of St. Johns County. Tickets for tastes of chowder will be sold for $1 each. Patrons are welcomed to vote on their favorite chowders to decide which wins the “People’s Choice” award. Beverages including beer, soda, tea, and water will also be available for purchase during this event.
Castillo de San Marcos – Free admission for Veterans Day
The Castillo de San Marcos offers free admission November 11, 2019, in honor of Veterans Day. The Castillo is open from 8:45 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. There will be informal activities commemorating Veterans Day from 11:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.
Old Town Trolley Tours – Veterans Day Free Admission*
All Veterans ride free on Old Town Trolley Tours and receive free admission to the Old Jail, Oldest Store Museum Experience, Potter’s Wax Museum and the St. Augustine History Museum. Patriot Service Dogs will be visiting the property of the Old Jail. Each Veterans Day, Old Town Trolley Tours donates $1 from each trolley ticket sold from all seven of their cities to Patriot Service Dogs. The money donated to Patriot Service Dogs allows us to sponsor dogs to go to a Veteran in need. Click here to learn more.
4:30 PM
Lighting Ceremony for Nights of Lights
The City of St. Augustine kicks off its 2019-2020 Nights of Lights season with a lighting ceremony. The Nights of Lights Lighting Ceremony, also known as Light Up! Night, takes place on Saturday, November 23, 2019. Locals and vacationers from all over join together to watch the City of St. Augustine flip the switch on three million white lights decorating the Plaza and buildings all over historic downtown. This has been a popular annual tradition in St. Augustine for over 20 years, and is all the more festive now that the Nights of Lights has garnered worldwide attention as a top destination to see holiday lights. This award-winning holiday lights display runs from November 23, 2019 to January 31, 2020 in historic St. Augustine. During Nights of Lights, businesses downtown stay open later, letting you dine in view of the lights and shop amongst the lit buildings. Old Town Trolley Tours offers special seasonal tours that take you through the best areas of Nights of Lights.
Experience St. Augustine’s 26th Annual Nights of Lights in the cozy comfort of Old Town Trolley Tours. Guests of all ages will delight as St. Augustine’s historic district is transformed into a winter wonderland with more than three million white lights. The 30-minute tour runs nightly from 6-9pm, including Christmas night, and departs from the Visitor Information Center. Guests will receive complimentary hot apple cider, homemade cookies and magical viewing glasses handcrafted by Santa’s elves exclusively for our guests. These amazing glasses will enhance St. Augustine’s award-winning light display to twinkle and shine even brighter. Click here to learn more.
