This FL Town Is The Perfect Place To Celebrate Christmas 2025, HGTV Says

ST. AUGUSTINE, FL — With the holly jolly Christmas Day almost here, HGTV has named its 50 favorite small towns to visit for the merry holiday, and St. Augustine made the list.

Gracing Florida's northeastern coast, St. Augustine sits nestled in St. Johns County. The town is enriched with historical landmarks and sandy beaches, and is home to the original Ripley's Believe It Or Not! museum.

More than 2 million white lights illuminate St. Augustine's downtown district during the area's annual Nights of Lights during Christmas.

Here's what HGTV had to say about St. Augustine:

"No American city has done Christmas longer than St. Augustine. Founded in 1565, St. Augustine remains the oldest active city in the continental United States. And its palm-lined holiday festivities are the stuff of legend. St. Augustine goes all-out for Christmas, decorating historic streets and gardens with millions of twinkling holiday lights. The town is adorned with millions of festive lights during its Nights of Lights. From November into January, the city's historic, Spanish Colonial architecture is set aglow by the spirit of the season in one of the most breathtaking displays of holiday lighting in the world."

While some Christmas events have already passed, St. Augustine will be hosting the following:

• Nights of Lights Tours, now through Jan. 11, 2026, begins at the Plaza de la Constitución and includes the St. Augustine's Historic District.
• Regatta of Lights, 6-7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, along St. Augustine's bayfront between the Bridge of Lions and the Castillo de San Marcos.
• Holiday Tour of Homes, noon-5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14, historic downtown.

In case you're traveling across Florida, you may want to check out these events in other towns:

• Holidays at LEGOLAND in Winter Haven
• Wonder House Christmas Tours in Bartow
• Holidays at Bok Tower Gardens in Lake Wales
• Pensacola Winterfest
• SeaWorld Orlando's Christmas Celebration
• Christmas Town at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay

See HGTV's full list of its 50 Favorite Small Towns to Visit for Christmas.