Why does St. Augustine go all out for Christmas with millions of lights covering oldest city? Nights of Lights. Every year St. Augustine wraps entire historic district in white lights millions of them. Every building every tree every street. Tradition started in 1993. City wanted something to attract tourists during slow season they decided to light up their Spanish colonial architecture. It worked. Now it’s one of biggest light displays in country. Lights go up day after Thanksgiving stay lit t