In celebration of the holiday season, community members are invited to a free event featuring live music, kids’ crafts, holiday treats and over 1,500 glowing luminaries.

ST. AUGUSTINE, FL. –Local community members and visitors are invited to enjoy live music, hot beverages and holiday cheer at the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Museum’s annual Luminary Night extravaganza on Wednesday, Dec. 3rd, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

photo 2Free to the public, this year’s holiday open house will feature performances by the St. Augustine High School Chamber Ensemble and Guitar Club, the Glad Melody Gang Recorder Group and the Anastasia String Quartet, whose Christmas melodies will exuberate from the walls of the lighthouse tower. The festivities will also include a bake sale, kids’ holiday crafts and an opportunity to visit with Santa Claus.

“This is one of our favorite events every year,” said Executive Director Kathy A. Fleming. “The Junior Service League started this tradition over a decade ago as a way to spread the joy of the holiday season to our local neighbors and thank them for supporting our museum. Now the event has grown into a city-wide celebration and we couldn’t be happier to share this joyous time of year with our community.”

photo 4The celebration takes place amidst the flickering glow of over 1,500 luminaries spread through the light station grounds. This year, guests will also notice a change in the traditional holiday décor of the museum. In celebrating the newly launched At Home with the Harns exhibit, this year’s decorations are more Victorian in style. Rich, burgundy bows trimmed in gold and wreaths adorned with fruit, magnolia leaves and roses bring an elegant touch reminiscent of early days at the Keepers’ House, which was completed in 1876.

For the little ones in the family, a tent with holiday crafts will be available as well as a special petting zoo exhibit from the St. Augustine Aquarium. Of course, the night wouldn’t be complete without a visit to take pictures and share Christmas wishes with Santa.

Guests will also have the rare opportunity to see some of the shipwreck artifacts currently under conservation at the lighthouse for a future exhibit. These items were under water for hundreds of years before being recovered by the Lighthouse Archaeological Maritime Program (LAMP) off the shores of St. Augustine.

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ABOUT THE ST. AUGUSTINE LIGHTHOUSE & MUSEUM:

A pivotal navigation tool and unique landmark of St. Augustine for over 140 years, the St. Augustine Light Station is host to centuries of history in the Nation’s Oldest Port. Through interactive exhibits, guided tours and maritime research, the 501(c)3 non-profit St. Augustine Lighthouse & Museum is on a mission to discover, preserve, present and keep alive the stories of the Nation’s Oldest Port sm as symbolized by our working lighthouse. We are the parent organization to the Lighthouse Archaeological Maritime Program (LAMP) and an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution.