13th Annual Light Up The Night Contest Awards St. Augustine’s Best Lights Displays
ST. AUGUSTINE, Florida (January 30, 2026) – The 13th Annual Light Up the Night Contest recognizes the hardworking businesses and residents who help make Nights of Lights one of the most magical times to visit historic St. Augustine. Each year, in partnership with WSOS Radio, St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce, Clipp Magazine, and St. Augustine & Ponte Vedra Visitor and Convention Bureau, Old Town Trolley Tours® welcomes locals and visitors to vote for their top lighting displays. This year’s contest introduced three new categories, bringing the total to four. The 13th Annual Light Up the Night Contest winners are:
Best Nights of Lights Display: Hilton St. Augustine Historic Bayfront in first place, Renaissance St. Augustine Historic Downtown Hotel in second place, and The Tini Martini Bar in third place
Best Newcomer: Spark by Hilton St. Augustine Historic District
Best Bed and Breakfast: Bayfront Marin House
Best Private Residence: Bill & Rena Schmelz in first place, Alaina Vezzi in second place, and Dominic Fazzingo in third place
“We’ve traditionally had the Best Nights of Lights Display category, but we have businesses, large and small, and residents, who are putting in tons of work to make Nights of Lights really special,” says Dave Chatterton, General Manager of Old Town Trolley Tours®. “I’m thrilled that these new categories bring attention to the local hospitality workers and homeowners who help make it happen.”
The grounds and maintenance team at the Hilton St. Augustine Historic Bayfront took home first place in the Best Nights of Lights Display, with 1.4 million lights shining bright. Engineer Yeisson Castellaños came up with the Hilton’s theme, a Whoville Village. He threw himself fully into the part, playing the Grinch for visiting guests. “We started putting lights up in September,” says Castellaños. “We hot-glue-gunned each individual light, which worked well, but removing them has been interesting. It’s almost February, and we’re still taking them down!”
The inaugural winner of the Best Bed and Breakfast category is the Bayfront Marin House. Located just south of the Bridge of Lions, it has been owned by Sandy and Mike Wieber since 2010. They’ve always decorated the inn for Nights of Lights, but this year was extra special. “In a town that’s world-famous for its holiday lights display, it’s an honor and a great tribute to our team to be recognized for the hard work and effort we put into decorating this year,” says the Wiebers.
