Florida's Historic Coast Calendar of Events Nights of Lights Nov 2015-Jan 2016 | Page 20

DECEMBER December 1 – 31 Dressing of the Palms in Vilano Beach The fourth annual Dressing of the Palms along Vilano Beach features palm trees decorated in holiday finery – A Celebration of Coastal Living. The trees showcase creative talents of residents, artists, businesses, clubs, schools, and organizations. Prizes for the best decorated palms will be awarded December 5 at the first Saturday Vilano Beach Sunset Celebration. Vilano Beach Main St., St. Augustine. www.VilanoBeachFL.com December 1 – 31 (Friday & Saturday for moonlight) Nights of Lights Moonlight Sail on the Schooner Freedom See the Nights of Lights from the deck of the Schooner Freedom on an inspiring sailing adventure on Matanzas Bay. The Moonlight Sail is a one-hour and 15 minutes cruise departing at 6:45 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights only. Tickets are $40. Sails depart from the St. Augustine City Marina and include complimentary soda, water, beer, wine and hot chocolate. Cuddle under a warm blanket and enjoy a whole new side of St. Augustine. 111 Avenida Menendez, St. Augustine. 904-810-1010 www.schoonerfreedom.com December 1 – 31 Ripley’s Red Trains Nights of Lights Tours Take an enchanting trip through St. Augustine’s spectacular Nights of Lights aboard one of Ripley’s famously festive red trains while helping celebrate Ripley’s 65th birthday at our winter carnival! Sing holiday carols and enjoy free magic viewing glasses while enjoying the lights! Plus, as a special Friday and Saturday night treat, through December 19th, Ripley’s offers free holiday movies, Santa, balloons, carnival games, popcorn, and snow! You can even take a ride on our carousel as we celebrate the season. There will be live stage shows every Friday and Saturday night. The Red Train tours depart from Ripley’s Believe It or Not! from 6 - 8 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 6 - 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights. Tickets are $10 adults and $5 for children. The VIP No Waiting tour on Friday and Saturday nights are $14 adults and $7 for children and includes a free ride on the carousel (Nov.22 – Dec 19 only). 19 San Marco Ave., St. Augustine. 904-824-1606 www.ripleys.com/redtrains. December 1 - 31 The Holly Jolly Nights of Lights Trolley Start a new Christmas tradition with some heart-warming holiday fun aboard a festive Holly Jolly Trolley! Get in the holiday spirit with onboard caroling through the ancient streets of St. Augustine while seeing the World Famous 22nd Annual Nights of Lights through magical viewing glasses. Includes complimentary hot apple cider and homemade cookies! The 30-minute tours depart nightly from the Visitor Information Center. Tickets are $12 adults; $5 children ages 6-12; free age 5 and younger. Free parking and shuttle service to the tour is available from the Old Jail, 167 San Marco Ave., the Old Town Trolley Welcome Center at 1305 N. Ponce de Leon Blvd. and the Old Town Trolley Welcome Center at 1700 N. Ponce de Leon Blvd. The Visitor Information Center is located at 10 W. Castillo Dr., St. Augustine. 904-829-3800 www.trolleytours.com December 1 – 31 St. Augustine Gold Tours Nights of Lights See the world-renowned St. Augustine holiday lights on a tour aboard a quiet electric vehicle. Travel the narrowest and quaintest streets of the ancient city to see all the lights and historic buildings up close. These narrated tours last 45 minutes. Group tours available nightly for up to 6 people for $100 for the whole vehicle. Monday through Thursday for $20 per person. Call or text for reservations. 904-325-0547 www.staugustinegoldtours.com December 1 – 31 Nights of Lights Biplane Tour Return to the Golden Age of Aviation on this magical sunset biplane flight for an aerial view of St. Augustine’s unforgettable Nights of Lights! The heated open cockpit holds two passengers and provides a vintage view of the setting sun and the historic streets of the oldest city all aglow. Departures are from the Northeast Florida Regional Airport in St. Augustine. 904-625-1450 www.staugustinebiplanerides.com  December 1 – 31 St. Augustine Art Association Exhibit Florida: Paradise Lost & Found St. Augustine Art Association’s Florida: Paradise Lost & Found. The show runs through January 3 and highlights the flora and fauna, history and happenings, people and places that are unique to Florida, both past and present. The gallery is open Tuesday Saturday noon - 4 p.m. and Sunday 2 - 5 p.m. (The gallery will be closed intermittently during the holidays.) Admission is free. 22 Marine St., St. Augustine. 904-824-2310 www.staaa.org December 1 – January 31 Obelisk Art 450 A temporary, international public art initiative by Compassionate St. Augustine, the Obelisk Art 450 pays tribute to the City of St. Augustine’s 450th anniversary while promoting a legacy of compassion. This very first St. Augustine public arts exhibit features 25 artistically interpreted 8.5-foot tall obelisk replicas of the Monumento a la Constitución on St. Augustine’s Plaza de la Constitución. Each of the 25 renowned artist’s obelisks demonstrates a storyline and the four foundational values to the monument originally dedicated in 1813: freedom, democracy, human rights and compassion. Each obelisk will be located at a site in St. Augustine that related to the artist’s interpretation. For more details and obelisk descriptions and locations, visit compassionstaugustine.org/artists--sites.html 20 21