The best free Christmas and winter holiday events in Jacksonville, St. Augustine
The holiday events calendar is getting crowded, and some of those events aren’t cheap. But you don’t need to take out a second mortgage to have a holly jolly time.
Check out these events coming to the Jacksonville area – they’re all free.
Nights of Lights
Where: Historic district, downtown St. Augustine
When: Nov. 19-Jan. 31
The historic section of downtown St. Augustine is a delight any time. Add three million lights and Nights of Lights becomes magical. Businesses stay open late and they’ve added a free park and ride shuttle between the San Marco lot, the Broudy’s lot at U.S. 1 and West King Street and the health department at 200 San Sebastian View. If you want to spend a few bucks for a different perspective, sign up for tours by water, electric cart or horsedrawn carriage.
In case you missed it: Dazzling Nights expanding light show at Jacksonville Arboretum for 2022 holiday season
More holiday events: Best events in Jacksonville, St. Augustine and more for 2022
Deck the Chairs
Where: Jacksonville Beach
When: 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. Nov. 23 through Jan. 1
Leave it to the Beaches folk to find a way to turn ordinary lifeguard chairs into holiday decorations. Ten years in, Deck the Chairs has become a staple of the Beaches holiday season, with an hourly musical light show, visits from Santa, local dance and music groups and holiday movies.
Jacksonville Light Boat Parade
Where: St. Johns River, downtown Jacksonville
When: 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 26
With all due respect to the people who spend days stringing lights, hanging decorations and turning their boats into something that would make Clark Griswold proud, the Light Boat Parade is not the reason to attend the Light Boat Parade. Stick around after the eye-popping boats cruise up and down the St. Johns River to watch the city’s signature “waterfall” fireworks show from the Main Street and Acosta Bridges. It’s one you won’t soon forget.
Small-town parades
Sometimes you have to get out of the big city if you want to find the best holiday events, and Saturday, Dec. 3, is the perfect day for it. Like, for example, the Town of Callahan Parade and Craft Fair, starting at 9 a.m. at the historic Callahan Train Depot; the 66th annual St. Augustine Christmas Parade, starting at 9 a.m. at Mission Nombre de Dios; Christmas on Walnut Street, starting at 2 p.m. with a parade through the middle of Green Cove Springs; the Lighted Christmas Parade on Centre and Ash streets in Fernandina Beach, starting at 6 p.m.; or the Palm Valley Boat Parade, which starts at 6 p.m. one mile south of the Palm Valley Bridge and travels north.
Parade of Trees
Where: Spring Park, Green Cove Springs
When: Sunset to 10 p.m. Dec. 3-31
Sometimes, the best parades don't even move. For the annual Parade of Trees, more than 150 trees — each decorated by a local family, business or organization — will be on display nightly at Spring Park, on the banks of the St. Johns River in Green Cove Springs.
Dickens on Centre
Where: Centre Street, Fernandina Beach
When: 5 to 7:30 p.m. Dec. 8; 5 to 9 p.m. Dec. 9; 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Dec. 10; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 11.
Things weren’t always great in the cities and villages of Charles Dickens’ novels, but they had an undeniable charm. For the eighth year, Downtown Fernandina Beach becomes a Dickens village, with characters in period costume, Victorian-inspired entertainment, a Tiny Tim kids’ area, chalk artists and holiday movies.
Drive-Through Living Nativity
Where: Westside Baptist Church, 1700 Old Middleburg Rd. N.
When: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Dec. 8-10
Based on the popularity of this event last year, organizers are warning people that they should expect a long delay at the Living Nativity – cars enter the line at Ed White High School, nearly two miles away, and it takes about an hour to get to the display from there. But once inside, visitors will find live animals and actors recreating the Biblical Christmas story.
Hometown Holiday in the Park
Where: Clarke House Park, 1039 Kingsley Ave. in Orange Park
When: 5 to 9 p.m. Dec. 9-10
Orange Park throws an old-fashioned holiday celebration, with hayrides, decorated trails, holiday movies, live music, a shopping village and photos with Santa. Admission is free, but there are charges for some activities.
Jacksonville Tuba Christmas
Where: Seawalk Pavilion, 75 1st St. N., Jacksonville Beach
When: 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10
Imagine 150 or so tuba and euphonium players – some professionals, but mostly amateurs – playing holiday songs at a beachfront pavilion. It might not work with, say, piccolos or banjos, but there’s something special about Tuba Christmas, a tradition in Jacksonville and many other cities (including eight others in Florida). As long as you’re there, check out Deck the Chairs, which is at the same venue.
Know before you go: 10 things to know before you head out for Riverside-Avondale luminaria display
Riverside Avondale Luminaria
Where: Riverside and Avondale neighborhoods
When: Dusk on Sunday, Dec. 11
Luminaria don’t sound all that impressive – small sand-filled paper bags with a candle inside. But when thousands of them line the streets of the historic neighborhoods on the west side of the St. Johns River, as they have since 1984, they sure can set the holiday mood. To avoid heavy traffic, especially along St. Johns Avenue, consider walking or cycling.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Best free Christmas events in Jacksonville and St Augustine
