09/29/2026
SAVE THE DATES!
St. Augustine’s premier living history holiday event, Colonial Night Watch, returns Friday, December 4 and Saturday, December 5!
This year’s Night Watch will once again bring history and the Christmas season together with a historical encampment, living history demonstrations, the always-popular Torchlight Parade, musket volleys, Christmas carols, and more.
Due to circumstances beyond our control, however, Night Watch will look a little different this year — and in some ways, we think those changes may make the experience even better.
Ongoing seawall construction on the Castillo de San Marcos property means that the traditional Friday evening “Enemy at the Gate” program will not be held this year. The construction also prohibits our use of the Castillo lawns for our military demonstrations and requires us to relocate the starting point of Saturday evening’s Torchlight Parade.
In addition, the expansion of the Christmas Bazaar at the Colonial Quarter means there is no longer sufficient room there for our historical encampment and demonstrations.
But we are very pleased to announce a wonderful new home for the encampment! Thanks to the generosity and cooperation of the St. Augustine Historical Society, this year’s historical encampment will be held on the beautiful and peaceful grounds of the Oldest House Museum, 14 St. Francis Street.
We believe this location will offer visitors an even better opportunity to experience living history. The larger, quieter setting will provide more room for demonstrations and more opportunities to meet and interact with our historical interpreters. And with a trolley stop directly in front of the entrance, getting there couldn’t be easier.
The Torchlight Parade will continue — with a new starting point and route. The parade will assemble in the area of the Visitor Information Center and proceed along Orange St. through the historic City Gate, then south along St. George Street before concluding in front of the Governor’s House Museum. There, our ceremonial Spanish Governess will address the gathered crowd as we continue some of Night Watch’s most beloved traditions — including the spectacular “Volley of Joy,” our large musket-firing demonstration, followed by the singing of Christmas carols in the heart of historic St. Augustine.
Locations may change. Routes may change. But the tradition continues.
Night Watch remains a celebration of St. Augustine’s history, its people, and the Christmas season — and we look forward to making this year’s event one to remember.
Save the dates: December 4 & 5, 2026.
More details coming soon!
