Christmas in St. Augustine, FL

I read recently in a travel magazine that St. Augustine, FL was ranked as one of the 10 best cities in the USA as a place to celebrate Christmas. After spending this Christmas season aboard the White Pepper in St. Augustine at the Rivers Edge Marina I can hardily agree.

The festivities begin on the Night of Lights when the central park—Constitution Square—is illuminated with thousands of white lights. The local businesses all put up white lights as well. The effect is marvelous. I had read that the city puts in one red light among all of the white ones—just because. Imagine my surprise when I spotted not one, but two red lights.

Constitution Square festooned with white lights

Waterfront illuminated

Two red lights among 10000 white ones

There is a lighted boat parade on the Metanzas River on Saturday night. The old fort held a free open house that night as well. I have never seen the downtown area more crowded. The tourist trolleys were packed full with everybody singing along and shouting “Merry Christmas.” It was a great atmosphere but with a cost. There was a 2 hour wait for dinner. Even getting a beer was a struggle. Next time Jan and I resolved to bring a flask.

Lighted Boat Parade

White Pepper was decorated although sparingly. Jan stores all of our Christmas decorations in a one gallon Zip Lock bag. Back in Beeville a whole closet can barely hold the Christmas decorations.

Our Christmas tree and manger scene

Sort of a wreath

Christmas Eve was not as crowded down town as the night of the boat parade. A local church provided carols. We went to the evening service at the Methodist Church. Then back at the boat Jan cooked a wonderful dinner topped off with a bottle of good white wine.

 Sacred readings and carols from the band stand

Mahi mahi smothered in shrimp

We spent a quiet Christmas Day at the marina. Paul, the dock master, organized a buffet. It was great although much smaller than many similar events all up and down the Eastern Florida coast.

Christmas Day pot luck and buffet.

Surprisingly New Year's Eve downtown was sparsely attended—almost empty. Later I learned that 35,000 people had gone to St. Augustine Beach to watch the fireworks there. We came back to the marina to sit around the campfire. By “cruisers midnight” (10:30) we were sound asleep. On New Year's Day we took a break from doing chores around the boat. We spent most of the day listening to football on the Sirius XM radio.