St. Augustine menorah lighting, Christmas parade among holiday events this season

Sheldon Gardner, St. Augustine Record
·6 min read

December 2020 marked only the second time in more than 20 years that Linda Abbott was unable to organize the St. Augustine Christmas parade. But the event ― one of the city's major annual celebrations ― is back this year.

"I do it for the kids, and when they smile that makes it all worthwhile," Abbott said.

With Nights of Lights underway in St. Augustine, the holiday season has begun in St. Johns County, and many free events are planned.

Holiday lights: A few of our favorite Florida displays

The arts: Recently launched St. Augustine exhibits include 'Faces of the Alcazar'

For the St. Augustine Christmas Parade, Santa will return for his normal visit as well as some other regulars, such as pirates in pirate ships, storm troopers, Newfoundland dogs, the St. Augustine Royal Family, horses, and some special guests, Abbott said.

"I hear we're going to have a mermaid," Abbott said.

Wearing a black top hat, Murphy McDaniel drives his horse and carriage and St. Augustine's Royal Family in circles as participants travel south on Avenida Menendez near the Old City Gates during the 59th Annual Christmas Parade in December 2013.
Wearing a black top hat, Murphy McDaniel drives his horse and carriage and St. Augustine's Royal Family in circles as participants travel south on Avenida Menendez near the Old City Gates during the 59th Annual Christmas Parade in December 2013.

The parade, which as of Monday counted 80 entries, begins at 9 a.m. on Saturday at the parking lot of the Mission Nombre de Dios at 101 San Marco Ave. The parade route will continue south down San Marco Avenue and along the bayfront and then head west on Cathedral Place and north on Cordova Street. The parade will end near Orange and Cordova streets.

Abbott said it's best to park in the city's parking garage at 1 Cordova St., bring chairs and arrive early. Typically by 8 a.m., San Marco Avenue is packed, she said.

Hanukkah in St. Johns County

On Tuesday, there are a couple of Jewish celebrations in the county. And more are planned locally throughout the season.

Known as the Festival of Lights, Hanukkah celebrates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem during the second century B.C. The event occurred when Jews rose up against Greek-Syrian rulers in the Maccabean Revolt and drove them out of Jerusalem, according to the History Channel.

To mark their victory, Jews wanted to reclaim the temple and light its menorah, but only found enough pure olive oil for one day, according to Chabad.org. That one-day supply lasted eight and is considered a miracle in Jewish faith.

Every year, Hanukkah begins on the 25th day of Kislev, a month in the Hebrew calendar. It lasts eight nights, and this year it's from Nov. 28 through Dec. 6. And it is celebrated with "a nightly menorah lighting, special prayers and fried foods," according to Chabad of St. Johns County.

The message of Hanukkah is the message of light and adding light to the world through acts of goodness and kindness, said Rabbi Mendel Sharfstein of the Chabad of St. Johns County

"The lesson is to add light in every day," he said.

Chabad of St. Augustine will host a Hanukkah celebration starting at 5 p.m. Tuesday in the Plaza de la Constitucion. The lighting will include a magic show; latkes, which are pancakes typically made of potatoes; doughnuts; a menorah lighting; and music.

And Chabad of St. Johns County will host its Helicopter Gelt Drop starting at 6:15 p.m. Tuesday in the large field at the Nocatee Spray Park at 400 Nocatee Center Way in Ponte Vedra Beach. A helicopter will drop chocolate Hanukkah coins for children. A Hanukkah tradition includes giving gifts of money, called gelt, to children as a way to reward "positive behavior and devotion to Torah study" and to encourage charity, according to the Chabad of St. Johns County.

"We want to make Hanukkah really exciting for the kids," Sharfstein said.

There will also be a light show, a menorah lighting, a kosher food truck, latkes and doughnuts. For details go to jewishsjohnscounty.com.

Holiday historical re-enactments, trees and more in St. Augustine

There's a lot going on this season. Here are some of the other holiday events planned around the county:

  • Wednesday: The St. Augustine Lighthouse and Maritime Museum presents Luminary Night from 6-9 p.m. The event features 2,000 luminaries, arts and crafts and more. As a donation, people are encouraged to bring a non-perishable food item for St. Francis House. The lighthouse is also offering tickets to see the illuminated grounds. For details, visit staugustinelighthouse.org.

  • Saturday: Re-enactors will participate in the Colonial Night Watch torchlight parade. The parade takes place at 7 p.m. starting at the Castillo de San Marcos at 1 S. Castillo Drive and will end at the Governor's House Cultural Center and Museum at 48 King St. It is part of series of activities. For details, visit hfm.club.

  • Saturday: The inaugural West King Street Lighting of the historical West King Street neighborhood takes place from 4-8 p.m. on West King Street from U.S. 1 to Palmer Street. The lighting ceremony starts at 5:15 p.m. at 223 W. King St. The event will feature live music, a DJ and vendors.

  • Saturday: The Palm Valley Boat parade takes place at 6 p.m. Boats start 1 mile south of the Palm Valley bridge and head north to the last home in Marsh Landing. The parade ends by 9:30 p.m. For details, visit palmvalleyboatparade.com.

  • Saturday: The 20th annual Surf Illumination takes place from 4 to 7 p.m. at Pier Park in St. Augustine Beach. The event will include a tree lighting, photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus, free children's activities and holiday shopping, according to the St. Augustine Beach Civic Association. Admission is free.

  • Sunday: Chanukah at World Golf Village takes place at 5:30 p.m. in front of the Trophy Tower at the World Golf Hall of Fame at 1 World Golf Place in St. Augustine. In addition to lighting a 9-foot menorah, the event will feature hot latkes, doughnuts, dreidels and music.

  • Dec. 11: At 6 p.m., the annual Holiday Regatta of Lights, hosted by the St. Augustine Yacht Club, features a series of vessels in holiday decorations traveling along the bayfront between the Castillo de San Marcos and the Bridge of Lions. Awards will be given in various categories.

  • Dec. 11: The Hastings Area annual Country Christmas Parade begins at 10 a.m. on a 1-mile path from the W.E. Harris Community Center on Harris Street, crosses S.R. 207 at the light, and ends about 11 a.m. at the Hastings Library Campus at 6195 S. Main St.

  • Dec. 11: A Holiday Night Market in association with the Wednesday Pier Farmers Market takes place from 3-7 p.m. at Pier Park in St. Augustine Beach.

  • Dec. 18 and 19: From 5-9 p.m. both nights, the Mission Nombre de Dios will host "A Night of Christmas" on its grounds at 101 San Marco Ave. in St. Augustine with a live Nativity, cookies, hot cocoa and Eucharistic adoration. Admission is free and open to the public. Also at the event will be a free Las Posadas procession, which commemorates Joseph and Mary looking for a place to stay in Bethlehem. While a reservation is required for Las Posadas, no reservation is required for the rest of the event. For details, call 904-824-2809 or visit missionandshrine.org.

― David Oliver of USA TODAY and Correspondent Nancy Quatrano contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on St. Augustine Record: St. Augustine Christmas parade and more: Holidays in St. Johns County