Events & What’s Happening
A longstanding St. Augustine tradition held at the waterfront where local fishing and shrimping boats receive a blessing for a safe and bountiful season, accompanied by a festival atmosphere.
💡Head to the bayfront early for the best waterfront views of the boat procession; the adjacent festival has food and crafts ideal for families.
One of the oldest and most respected juried art festivals in the Southeast, held outdoors in historic downtown St. Augustine each spring with hundreds of artists and live entertainment.
💡The event is stroller-friendly and children enjoy the live demonstration booths; go Saturday morning before the afternoon heat and crowds peak.
A reenactment of the 18th-century Spanish colonial military tradition, featuring soldiers marching through the streets by torchlight to commemorate the founding of St. Augustine.
💡Kids love the torches, period costumes, and drum corps; the procession route is short and easy to follow with young children.
Annual fall festival at the St. Augustine Lighthouse and Maritime Museum featuring maritime activities, live music, kid-friendly games, and local food vendors.
💡Climb the lighthouse early in the day before lines form; the maritime museum's hands-on exhibits are excellent for school-age children.
One of the largest holiday light displays in the nation, illuminating the historic downtown district with millions of white lights from mid-November through January.
💡Take the free trolley or hop on a horse-drawn carriage ride through the lit streets; weeknights are far less crowded than weekends.
The official kickoff of Nights of Lights held in the Plaza de la Constitución, featuring a ceremonial lighting, live music, and family festivities.
💡Arrive at least an hour early to secure a good viewing spot in the plaza; the event draws large crowds but is very family-friendly.
Annual multi-day music celebration featuring live performances across historic venues and outdoor stages throughout downtown St. Augustine.
💡Check for daytime outdoor sets which are most accessible for kids; many performances are free or low cost.
Year-round Saturday morning farmers market in the parking lot of the St. Augustine Amphitheatre, offering local produce, prepared foods, plants, and handmade goods.
💡Come before 10am for the best selection and cooler temperatures; kids enjoy the fresh-squeezed juice and pastry vendors.
Weekly story time sessions at the St. Augustine Public Library branch featuring picture books, songs, and simple crafts geared toward toddlers and preschoolers.
💡Check the library's online calendar as themes and age groups rotate weekly; sessions fill up quickly so arrive a few minutes early.
Weekend living history programs at the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument featuring cannon and musket firings, period reenactors, and ranger-led talks about the fort's colonial history.
💡The cannon firing demonstration is the highlight for kids — ask a ranger for the schedule upon arrival as firing times vary by season.
Seasonal weekend nature walks and interpretive programs at Anastasia State Park led by park rangers, covering local wildlife, coastal ecosystems, and sea turtle conservation.
💡Wear closed-toe shoes and bring water and sunscreen; programs are free with park admission and perfectly paced for elementary-age children.
Planning Your Visit
Neighborhoods & Areas
Local Tips for Families
- 💡The National Park Service admission to Castillo de San Marcos ($15/adult) includes re-entry for 7 consecutive days — buy it on arrival day and use it again the next morning when ranger-led cannon demonstrations typically run at 10:30am and 2:30pm on weekends.
- 💡St. Augustine Alligator Farm offers a 'Croc Rock' zip-line course that flies directly over live alligator enclosures — kids must be at least 7 years old and 70 lbs, so check this before building a family itinerary around it.
- 💡The Anastasia State Park day-use entrance fee (~$8/vehicle) is separate from the beach parking on St. Augustine Beach proper. The State Park beach is consistently less crowded, has cleaner facilities, and offers shade from the tree line — worth the small fee difference.
- 💡Flagler College offers free self-guided tours of the former Hotel Ponce de León lobby Monday through Saturday during the academic year — the Louis Comfort Tiffany stained glass windows inside are among the largest collection of his work anywhere and kids find the dragon gargoyle carvings genuinely memorable.
- 💡The St. Augustine Eco Tours dolphin and seal kayak tour departs from the Municipal Marina and consistently spots bottlenose dolphins in Matanzas Bay — the 1.5-hour tour books out fast in summer, so reserve at least 3 days in advance online.
- 💡Parking in the historic district is easiest at the Visitor Information Center garage on Castillo Drive — it fills by 10am on summer weekends, but the overflow lot on San Marco Avenue near the Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park opens when the garage fills and is a short flat walk to the fort.
- 💡The Nights of Lights holiday illumination (mid-November through late January) is most spectacular on St. George Street and Avenida Menendez on weekday evenings between 6-8pm before restaurant crowds peak — weekends in December draw very large crowds and parking becomes extremely difficult after 5pm.
- 💡The St. Augustine Lighthouse museum sells combination tickets that include both the museum and tower climb — the keeper's cottage exhibits are genuinely well-done and hold kids' attention better than the climb alone, so budget 90 minutes minimum rather than treating it as a quick stop.
- 💡Local families avoid the beachside restaurants directly on A1A during peak summer and instead drive 10 minutes north on A1A to Vilano Beach where Obi's Bait and Tackle area has casual waterfront options with no wait times and a genuinely local atmosphere.
- 💡The free trolley shuttle between the Visitor Information Center on Castillo Drive and the historic district runs frequently and saves significant walking with young children — it is operated separately from the paid Old Town Trolley tour system and is included with your parking garage fee.