Holiday 2021 events happening in Jacksonville and St. Augustine areas

Several events are taking place in the Jacksonville and St. Augustine areas to celebrate this holiday season.

EVENTS THAT BEGIN THIS WEEKEND

• Kick off the 28th annual Nights of Lights event in St. Augustine with Light-Up! Night. A ceremony to showcase lights being turned on to illuminate the city will begin at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 20 at the historic Plaza de la Constitución Gazebo. Ahead of the ceremony at 4 p.m., Showtime USA will perform your holiday favorites in front of city hall (75 King St). At 5:30 p.m., the All Star Orchestra band will take the stage at the historic Plaza de la Constitución Gazebo. The concert continues after the ceremony until 7:30 p.m. at King St. and Cathedral Place. Nights of Lights runs every evening from Nov. 20, 2021 through Jan. 31, 2022.

• Dazzling Nights | Families are invited to experience Dazzling Nights at the Jacksonville Arboretum & Botanical Gardens beginning Friday, Nov. 19. It’s located at 1445 Millcoe Road, off Monument Road in Arlington. The holiday exhibits will run nightly from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. through Jan. 9, 2022. Tickets are $22 per person on weekdays and $25 per person on weekends.

Dazzling Nights holiday exhibit at Jacksonville Arboretum & Botanical Gardens

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Dazzling Nights A park in Jacksonville will transform into a winter wonderland this holiday season.

• The Christmas Carole musical will take place at the Alhambra Theatre from now through Dec. 24. For tickets, click here.
• St. Augustine Boat Tours will provide a beautiful view of the Nights of Lights from the water. Boat tours will be nightly starting Nov, 20 through Jan. 31, 2022. Departure times are p.m., 7:20 p.m. and 9 p.m. Prices are $34 for adults and $15 for kids under 8. To book a tour, click here.

Best places to see Christmas lights in the Jacksonville area in 2021

Visit areas in Jacksonville that are showing beautiful Christmas light displays. Click here for details.

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UPCOMING EVENTS:

• The annual Jacksonville Light Boat Parade will take place on Nov. 27. at 6 p.m. along the St. Johns River. Spectators can view the parade from the North and Southbank Riverwalks, including Riverfront Plaza, where the event will feature the 904 Pop Up from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. The parade will end with a fireworks display featuring “waterfalls” off the Main Street and Acosta Bridge at 8 p.m.

• Christmas in the Cathedral District: Let There Be Light | Every night at 6 p.m. from Saturday, Nov. 27 through Friday, Dec. 31, you can take a self-guided driving tour of historic churches and landmark buildings, illuminated with thousands of lights, in downtown Jacksonville’s Cathedral District. Opening “bells” will ring at 6 p.m. with all five churches ringing simultaneously for a full five minutes.
• Visit Old St. Andrews Church’s annual Gingerbread Extravaganza to see gingerbread houses and creations from Dec. 4-22. Click here for more information.
• The Hip Hop Nutcracker will take place at the Florida Theatre on Dec. 12 at 7 p.m.
• The Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical, will take place at the Florida Theatre on Dec. 21 at 7 p.m.
• Surf Illumination 2021: See the Christmas tree lit up at the St. Augustine Beach Pier Park on Dec. 4, from 4 p.m. -7 p.m. There will be holiday music, balloon twister as well as Santa Claus.
• A Christmas Story performance will take place at Limelight Theatre (located at 11 Old Mission Avenue in St. Augustine) from Dec. 3 to Dec. 23.
• The St. Augustine Community Chorus will hold a holiday chorus at 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 11 and 12 at the Cathedral Basilica (38 Cathedral Place in St. Augustine). To get tickets for the event, click here.
• On Dec.1 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Luminary Night, an annual tradition hosted by the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum, will take place at 100 Red Cox Road in St. Augustine. More than 2,000 luminaries will be displayed throughout the grounds and on the streets surrounding the landmark.

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