St. Augustine Nights of Lights 2026: Dates and Tours
Nights of Lights 2026-27 runs 21 November to 18 January and is free to see. How the trolley and electric-cart tours work, prices per row, timing and parking tips.
Every winter St. Augustine strings millions of small white lights through its historic district for Nights of Lights. The listings put the count at over 3 million. It is the city’s busiest season after dark, and it overlaps with the ghost tours.
When is Nights of Lights 2026?
The St. Augustine visitors bureau gives the dates as 21 November 2026 to 18 January 2027. The lights are free to see: walk the bayfront, Plaza de la Constitución and St. George Street on your own any evening of the season.
Do you need a tour?
No, but a tour solves two problems. Downtown traffic and parking get difficult in season, and a ride also covers the lit streets beyond walking distance in under an hour, which matters with children or tired legs.
The two tours, compared
| Tour | Length | Price basis | Narrated | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nights of Lights Trolley Tour | 40 minutes | Per private row of up to 4 | Sing-along driver | $81 |
| Nights of Lights Tour by Electric Cart | 45 minutes | Per person | No; questions answered | $42 |
The trolley price is for a whole row: a family of four pays $81 together, about $20 each. The electric cart is priced per person, so it is cheaper only for a solo traveller; from two people up, a trolley row costs less.
Nights of Lights Trolley Tour
Open-air trolley, a private row, a caroling driver, viewing glasses, cookies and warm cider.
Check dates →Nights of Lights Tour by Electric Cart
A 45-minute electric cart from the waterfront through the plaza, with Christmas songs; not narrated.
Check dates →Prices, ratings and review counts as listed on GetYourGuide in October 2026, not a quote: they change with the season and the date you pick.
Booking the trolley
The Nights of Lights trolley tour (4.2 from 1,143 reviews, from $81 per group up to 4 (GetYourGuide, checked October 2026)) has the most reviews of any tour in this guide. Reservations are required. The operator warns that traffic is heavy in season and asks you to leave enough time to park and check in; a VIP ticket lets you arrive any time with priority seating.
What the trolley adds is ease: a seat, a route through the best of the lights, and nobody in your group stuck circling for parking.
Book Your Experience
Check Availability & Prices
Select your preferred date and time. Instant confirmation — free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure.
The electric cart tour (4.4 from 324 reviews, from $42 (GetYourGuide, checked October 2026)) starts on the waterfront; check in in person, and note each row has a 600 lb weight limit.
Lights and ghosts in one evening
Many visitors do both: lights early in the evening, a ghost tour later. Check each listing’s calendar for winter dates, and compare the ghost tours in the best ghost tour in St. Augustine, or pick a family-friendly option from ghost tours for families.
The Nights of Lights trolley tour
A 40-minute open-air trolley ride through the lights, priced per private row of up to four, with cookies and warm cider at the end.
Check dates