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<\/div>\n<\/div>\nSearching for Jacksonville\u2019s best Christmas lights displays in 2025<\/p>\n
Here’s how to submit your holiday lights display for our interactive map of the best displays in Jacksonville.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Money can get kind of tight during this time of year, but it doesn’t mean you have to completely sit out the holiday season. There are dozens of free holiday things to do, including several Christmas lights displays across Jacksonville as well as Christmas tree lightings, musical events and more. We’ve gathered more than two dozen holiday events<\/a> coming to the Jacksonville area that you can enjoy for free. That’s not to say you won’t have to pay for food or drinks or photos with Santa, but you don’t have to spend a dime if you don’t want to.<\/p>\n More holiday fun things to do: <\/strong>Lights, parades, concerts and Nutcrackers pack Jacksonville’s 2025 holiday events calendar<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n Show us your Christmas lights! <\/strong>Have a great Christmas lights display? Help us find the best in Jacksonville<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n Nov. 15-Jan. 11 in downtown St. Augustine. Free.\u00a0<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n Three million lights are strung in the trees and buildings of St. Augustine’s historic district, with events planned nearly every day. Info: visitstaugustine.com<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n Nov. 26-Jan. 1 at Seawalk Pavilion, Jacksonville Beach. Free.\u00a0<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n Dozens of lifeguard chairs are decorated with holiday themes. The lights are on nightly from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m., and events are scheduled throughout the event’s run. Info: deckthechairs.org<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n Dec. 1-31 at Spring Park, Green Cove Springs. Free.<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n Dozens of trees decorated by local families, businesses and groups are lit up until 10 p.m. every night in the riverfront park. Info: exploreclay.com<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n Holiday guide: <\/strong>Discover more holiday events, gift guides, decorating ideas and more<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n Free newsletter: <\/strong>Sign up for our free Daily Briefing, the day’s biggest news delivered to your inbox<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 15, at the St. Johns Town Center. Free.\u00a0\u00a0<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n Santa arrives at the big outdoor mall, with fireworks and live entertainment from Bold City Classics. Info: simon.com<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 20, at UNF’s Robinson Theater. Free.<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n UNF’s jazz ensembles bring big-band swing to holiday standards. Info: events.unf.edu<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n 8 a.m, Friday, Nov. 28, on Fernandina Beach’s Centre Street. Free.<\/em><\/p>\n Daylong pajama party with live entertainment, visits with Santa and a 6 p.m. tree lighting. Info: fernandinamainstreet.com<\/a><\/p>\n 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 28, at Sesquicentennial Park. Free.<\/em><\/p>\n A festival with vendors and food trucks starts at 5 p.m., leading to a 6:30 p.m. parade. Info: sparcouncil.org<\/a><\/p>\n 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 29, on the St. Johns River in downtown Jacksonville. Free.<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n The traditional start of Jacksonville’s holiday season features boats lit up for the holidays parading up and down the St. Johns River. Info: events.jacksonville.gov<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n 6:15 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 2, at Orange Park Town Hall. Free.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n They\u2019ll read \u201cThe Night Before Christmas\u201d before flipping the switch to light up the trees around Orange Park Town Hall. Info:\u00a0townoforangepark.com<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n Dec. 5-6, 12-13 at East Pointe Church. Free.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n Live animals, Roman soldiers, a marketplace and a manger help set the scene of Bethlehem on the night of Jesus\u2019 birth. Info:\u00a0epcjax.com<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>\n 9 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, starting at the Mission of Nombre de Dios. Free.\u00a0<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n It’s the 68th year for Santa to arrive in one of Northeast Florida’s largest annual parades. Info: visitstaugustine.com<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, in Green Cove Springs. Free.\u00a0<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n The annual festival kicks off with a parade, followed by a day of vendors and live music at Spring Park. Tree lighting is scheduled for 8 p.m. Info: exploreclay.com<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre. Free.<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n Face-painting, fake snow, games, carolers, Santa and a free showing of “The Polar Express.” Admission is free with donation of a non-perishable food item to benefit the St. Johns Ecumenical Council Food Pantry. Info: theamp.com<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, in Fernandina Beach. Free.<\/em><\/p>\n Kick off the season with an illuminated procession. Info: fbfl.us.<\/a><\/p>\n 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, at Hendricks Avenue Baptist Church. Free.<\/em><\/p>\n Holiday music from the UNF Chamber Singers, Osprey Treble Chorus and Mantavoces FSCJ Choirs. Info: unf.edu<\/p>\n 11 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 7, at Riverside Arts Square. Free.<\/em><\/p>\n Music, bounce houses, vendors and visits from Santa and the Grinch. Info:\u00a0jacksonvillebusinessconnections.com<\/a><\/p>\n 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7, at Normandy Park Baptist Church. Free, but donations accepted.<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n Kathy Lowery, founder of the Westside Parkinson\u2019s Support Group of Jacksonville, is joined by Camille Frontz, Angelina Eidson, Stetson Floyd, Stephen Quinn and Julia Connell for a holiday concert. Info: jaxhopeinc.org<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n 5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 12, behind BestBet Orange Park. Free.<\/em><\/p>\n Free cocoa and performances from local children’s groups, plus a “jolly trolley” offering rides along the riverfront. Info: concertonthegreen.com<\/a><\/p>\n 9 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, at the Prime Osborn Convention Center. Free.<\/em><\/p>\n Tens of thousands of toys are given away to kids in one of Jacksonville’s enduring holiday traditions. Info:\u00a0ccpoj.org<\/a><\/p>\n 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, in downtown Hastings. Free.\u00a0<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n 10 a.m. parade starts at the Harris Community Center and moves down Main Street, followed by a holiday marketplace. Info: visitstaugustine.com<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, at Seawalk Pavilion, Jacksonville Beach. Free.<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n 150 or so tuba, euphonium and sousaphone players oompah their way through holiday classics. Info: jaxtubaxmas.com<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, at the Clay County Outdoor Adventure Park, Middleburg. Free.\u00a0<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n Festival with vendors and live entertainment, followed by 6:30 p.m. parade. Info: exploreclay.com<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, at Clarke House Park, Orange Park. Free.\u00a0<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n Shopping village, hay rides and an illuminated trail, all on the grounds of a historic home. Info: exploreclay.com<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, on the St. Augustine bayfront. Free. <\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n Apparently, a few million lights in the historic district<\/a> aren’t good enough, so St. Augustine is also throwing a lighted boat parade to celebrate the season. Info: visitstaugustine.com<\/a><\/p>\n 5 p.m. Dec. 13-14 at Clarke House Park, Orange Park. Free.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n Hay rides, pony rides, pictures with Santa, live music and a shopping village. Info:\u00a0townoforangepark.com<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n 5 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 15, at James Weldon Johnson Park. Free.\u00a0<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n The Jacksonville Jewish Center’s Hanukkah celebration will be held all over the city, with the sixth night in the downtown square. Info: jaxjewishcenter.org<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n Dusk Sunday, Dec. 21, in Riverside and Avondale. Free.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n The streets of Riverside and Avondale are lined with lighted bags in a Jacksonville tradition. Info:\u00a0riversideavondale.org<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n These events aren’t quite free, but are either dirt cheap or will accept donations.<\/p>\n 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, at 121 Financial Ballpark. $1.<\/em><\/p>\n It’s the off-season for Jacksonville’s baseball team, but the Jumbo Shrimp are throwing a holiday party anyway, with vendors, holiday movies and photos with Santa. Info:\u00a0milb.com\/jacksonville<\/a><\/p>\n Dec. 12-13 at the Beaches Museum, Jacksonville Beach.\u00a0Donations accepted.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n On most days, you can find an old Florida East Coast Railroad engine at the Beaches Museum. For this event, it becomes the North Pole Express, with Santa and all. Info:\u00a0beachesmuseum.org<\/a><\/p>\n 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14,<\/em> at the Beaches Museum, Jacksonville Beach.\u00a0Donations accepted.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n Chabad at the Beaches throws a celebration that includes menorah lighting, games and latke. Info: beachesmuseum.org<\/a><\/p>\nFree holiday light shows in the Jacksonville area<\/h2>\n
Nights of Lights\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/h2>\n
Deck the Chairs\u00a0\u00a0<\/h2>\n
Parade of Trees\u00a0<\/h2>\n
Free Christmas tree lightings, parades, holiday concerts and more<\/h2>\n
Holiday Spectacular\u00a0\u00a0<\/h2>\n
Swingin’ Into the Holidays\u00a0<\/h2>\n
Black Friday Pajama Party<\/h2>\n
Springfield Holiday Tree Lighting & Lantern Parade<\/h2>\n
Jacksonville Light Boat Parade\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/h2>\n
Lighting of the Park\u00a0<\/h2>\n
Walk Through Bethlehem\u00a0<\/h2>\n
St. Augustine Christmas Parade\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/h2>\n
Christmas on Walnut Street Parade and Festival\u00a0\u00a0<\/h2>\n
Friends of St. Augustine Amphitheatre Holiday Celebration\u00a0<\/h2>\n
Lighted Christmas Parade<\/h2>\n
Cozy Choral Christmas Concert<\/h2>\n
Jacksonville Holly Jolly Community Event<\/h2>\n
Christmas Concert Fundraiser for Parkinson’s\u00a0<\/h2>\n
Cocoa & Carols<\/h2>\n
The Children’s Christmas Party of Jacksonville<\/h2>\n
Hastings Hometown Christmas Parade\u00a0and Holiday Market\u00a0<\/h2>\n
Tuba Christmas\u00a0<\/h2>\n
Middleburg Christmas Festival and Parade\u00a0\u00a0<\/h2>\n
Hometown Holiday\u00a0\u00a0<\/h2>\n
Regatta of Lights\u00a0\u00a0<\/h2>\n
Hometown Holiday in the Park\u00a0<\/h2>\n
Totally Lit!\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/h2>\n
RAP Luminaria<\/h2>\n
(Almost) free things to do in Jacksonville this holiday season<\/h2>\n
Very Shrimp Christmas<\/h2>\n
Beaches North Pole Express \u00a0<\/h2>\n
Glow-in-the-Dark Chanukkah Celebration<\/h2>\n
Christmas at the Cabin\u00a0<\/h2>\n