Come out and experience "St. Augustine's Best New Festival" and see what the excitement is about! Critics called the event "A Huge Success" and that "Taking a Chance on Ice Pays Off". After two hugely successful years, the third annual Winter Wonderland festival returns to the St. Augustine Amphitheatre starting November 20th and running through January 3rd. Last year, over 40,000 people enjoyed the magic of the holiday season! The Winter Wonderland experience will hold twice the magic and wonder, with thousands of additional lights, a giant 20' Christmas tree, and vintage themed holiday scenes and decorations hand painted by local artists and a new and improved Ice Slide! As the first outdoor slide compatible with warm climates in the United States, the slide will create lasting adventure and memories for Winter Wonderland patrons. Speed down 100 feet of ice and race your friends on our dueling slides. Winter Wonderland brings back crowd favorites such as St. Augustine's only outdoor ice skating rink, an interactive elf village, holiday shopping, theatre, sleigh rides, s'mores, and of course, visits from Santa!! The St. Augustine Amphitheatre is located at 1340 A1A South in St. Augustine. Winter Wonderland is open Daily from 6 to 10 p.m. Winter Wonderland will be closed Thanksgiving Day, open 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Christmas Eve, from 6 to 10 p.m. on Christmas Day, and 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on New Year's Eve. Winter Wonderland 2009 Things to Do and See….. Ice Slide: Experience thrills and chills as you race down our duel slides made entirely of ice! Outdoor Ice Rink: St. Augustine's only outdoor ice rink returns this season show off your skills or try it out for the first time. The cost to skate is only $12. Nightly Snow Fall: Every night experience snow in Florida as the Amphitheatre turns in to a Winter Wonderland. Snow falls every night at 7:30pm and 9:00pm. Sleigh Rides: Take a horse drawn sleigh ride through an enchanted winter forest. Rides run nightly from 6:00pm -10:00pm, $10 for adults and $5 for children. Santa Visits: The Santa Claus, Jolly Old St. Nick himself will be available for visits. Write a letter to Santa and drop it off in our oversized mailbox. Elf Village: Enjoy a unique and magical interactive experience as you explore a village of elf houses. The village is free of charge and open whenever Winter Wonderland is! NEW! Reindeer Games: Test your skills and win a prize at one of our Winter Carnival games, including Greedy Grinch, Alpine Toss, Polar Pong, and Elf Zone. Each game costs just $2 for play, and is suited for all ages & skill levels! Theatre: The Veddy Theatre Group is proud to present a new holiday themed play TBA Holiday Shopping: Local artists and vendors will have their gifts and merchandise on display to make Winter Wonderland your one-stop shopping experience! S'mores Fire Pit: Turn a chilly night into a fun experience for the whole family. The fire starts every night at 6:00pm, s'mores kits available from concession stands.

Join in the opening ceremonies for the 16th Annual Nights of Lights beginning at St. Augustine's historic Plaza de la Constitucion. Named one of the American Bus Association's 2007 Top 100 events in North America, Nights of Lights is a two-month long celebration of the Holiday Season. After a high-energy musical performance beginning at 4:30 p.m., From 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., the All Stars Orchestra will perform holiday music. Then at 6:30 p.m., the lighting ceremony gets underway when a single flick of a switch will bathe the historic district in the soft glow of two million lights. All Stars Orchestra will continue to perform holiday music till 8 p.m.

Come enjoy one of St. Augustine's favorite annual art events. See art created from lace to limestone and crayons to crystal. This juried art festival takes place at Francis Field behind the St. Augustine Downtown Historic Parking Facility located on West Castillo Drive in St. Augustine. The festival is sponsored by the St. Augustine Art Association and takes place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is a $1 donation.

Experience a favorite end-of-the-month event -- Uptown Saturday Night! From 5 to 9 p.m., the galleries, antique stores and unique shops between Ripley's Museum and the Mission of Nombre de Dios in St. Augustine's Uptown San Marco Shopping District remain open during this special evening. Meet-the-artists, book signings, live music, refreshments and other events contribute to the party-like atmosphere – plus, great food will be provided by the St. Augustine Independent Restaurant Association. The Mission of Nombre de Dios provides FREE PARKING for the event. The event is sponsored by the San Marco Avenue Merchants Association.

Come hear the classic sounds of some of the greatest Motown legends when Patrick Robinson brings his successful cabaret show back to the Limelight Theatre. Limelight Theatre is located at 11 Old Mission Rd. in St. Augusitne. The show takes place Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings at 7:30 p.m. abd Sunday at 2 p.m.. Tickets are $22 for adults and $22 for seniors, students and active military.

Experience what St. Augustine was like during the British occupation of the old city from 1763 to 1784. The British encampment will be located at the Colonial Spanish Quarter at 53 St. George Street. Open 9 a.m. to dusk, visitors can listen to Fife and Drum Corps, meet British soldiers and see a musket competition at 3 p.m. at the Castillo de San Marcos.

Experience what night-time entertainment was like during St. Augustine's British occupation. The fun begins at 8 p.m. at St. Augustine's Colonial Spanish Quarter Museum on St. George Street behind the Taberna Café and is free to all. Bring a blanket or a lawn chair. Refreshments and libations are available from the Tavern.

Join one of St. Augustine's most popular cultural events on the first Friday of every month. Enjoy the latest exhibits, music, entertainment and refreshments at over 20 participating galleries. Tours begin at Rembrandtz Fine Gifts for Fun People, 131 King Street. Galleries are open from 5 to 9 p.m. St. Augustine Sightseeing Trains and Old Town Trolleys offer attendees a complimentary shuttle service to most of the galleries. Shuttles run on a continuous loop every 30 minutes.

Enjoy a magnificent display Of Christmas tress at the third-annual Festival of Trees at the St. Johns County Convention Center adjacent to the Renaissance Resort at World Golf Village. The event will showcase trees and wreaths decorated by businesses, organizations, families and friends from the community. The event, which is free to the public, will be open daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the final day. The decorated trees will be part of a silent auction and visitors will be encouraged to fill out a ballot indicating the number of votes (in minimum $1 bids) they would like to cast for their favorite trees. All proceeds raised during the event will go directly to The St. Augustine Record's Empty Stocking Fund and the United Way of St. Johns County.

Walk back in time and experience the charm, warmth and grandeur of the holiday season on the St. Augustine Garden Club "Christmas Remembered" holiday tour. This highly anticipated annual Holiday event showcases private homes in St. Augustine's Abbott Tract. Decorations and floral arrangements made of natural materials are designed and handcrafted by club members and will be on display. The tours depart from Ripley's Believe It or Not! Museum, 19 San Marco Avenue, from noon to 5 p.m. Complimentary shuttle service from the Historic Downtown Parking Facility to Ripley's will run throughout the afternoon. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 on the day of the tour and include refreshments and admission to the boutique featuring home-made treats and natural hand-crafted items created by club members. For more information, call 904.230.2108 or visit www.gardenclubofstaugustine.com.

Regale your eyes with a holiday parade of boats from 15 to 85 feet in length – sailboats, trawlers, shrimp boats, and many other vessels all-a-glitter with brilliant lighted displays ranging from patriotic to whimsical. Awards will be made for the best theme, most colorful, best in class, and best overall. Beginning at 6 p.m., the boats will light up Matanzas Bay between the Bridge of Lions and Castillo de San Marcos. The Regatta of Lights is hosted by the St. Augustine Yacht Club.

Tour St. Augustine's historic Bed and Breakfast Inns, all decorated in holiday finery. In addition to being able to enjoy each Inn's dazzling Christmas season displays, tour participants will sample taste treats throughout the Holiday Tour: Each Inn unites with one of St. Augustine's leading restaurants and confectioners, who serve complimentary samples. The tour takes place from 2 to 5 p.m. each day; half of the inns welcome visitors on Saturday, and half on Sunday. Tickets in advance are $35. Net proceeds from the Holiday Tour will benefit the Empty Stocking Fund, which assists needy families during the holidays, and the expansion of St. Francis House, which offers food and temporary shelter to the homeless.

More than two million tiny white lights will glow along the ancient streets and historic buildings of the Nation's oldest city when the 16th Annual Nights of Lights celebration sparkles to life at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 21. Tracing its origins to the Spanish tradition of displaying a lighted white candle during the Christmas holidays, the spectacular lighting in St. Augustine reflects the city's 443-year history while creating a beautiful setting for the holidays through January 31.

Experience a favorite end-of-the-month event -- Uptown Saturday Night! From 5 to 9 p.m., the galleries, antique stores and unique shops between Ripley's Museum and the Mission of Nombre de Dios in St. Augustine's Uptown San Marco Shopping District remain open during this special evening. Meet-the-artists, book signings, live music, refreshments and other events contribute to the party-like atmosphere – plus, great food provided by the St. Augustine Independent Restaurant Association. The Mission of Nombre de Dios provides FREE PARKING for the event. The event is sponsored by the San Marco Avenue Merchants Association.

Join one of St. Augustine's most popular cultural events on the first Friday of every month. Enjoy the latest exhibits, music, entertainment and refreshments at over 20 participating galleries – plus, great food courtesy of the St. Augustine Independent Restaurant Association. Tours begin at San Sebastian Winery, 157 King Street. Galleries are open from 5 to 9 p.m. St. Augustine Sightseeing Trains and Old Town Trolleys offer attendees a complimentary shuttle service to most of the galleries. Shuttles run on a continuous loop every 30 minutes.

Experience a favorite end-of-the-month event -- Uptown Saturday Night! From 5 to 9 p.m., the galleries, antique stores and unique shops between Ripley's Believe It or Not! Museum and the Mission of Nombre de Dios in St. Augustine's Uptown San Marco Shopping District remain open during this special evening. Meet-the-artists, book signings, live music, refreshments and other events contribute to the party-like atmosphere – plus, great food provided by the St. Augustine Independent Restaurant Association. The Mission of Nombre de Dios provides FREE PARKING for the event. The event is sponsored by the San Marco Avenue Merchants Association.