St. Augustine's Nights of Lights Light-Up! Night ceremony for 2025 is setting the stage for a historic commemoration. On November 15, as the sun dips and 6:30 p.m. ticks closer, two figures rooted deeply in the city's heritage will step up to the ceremonial switch in the Plaza de la Constitución: Rusty Hall, President of the Menorcan Cultural Society, and Lea Craig, co-founder of The Minorcan Experience. A tradition since 2003, one flip of a switch bathes the plaza and holiday tree in brilliant light, a symbol of the community's enduring spirit.
In an announcement made prematurely by Mayor Nancy Sikes-Kline, this year's Light-Up! Night nods to the 250th anniversary of the Minorcans settling in St. Augustine. The Mayor expressed her pride in honoring the community's builders, stating, "They helped establish a strong and enduring community and are an integral part of our history and culture," according to the City of St. Augustine. She regards choosing the Light-Up! Night honorees each year as a special privilege.
Hall, a dedicated civic leader and graduate of St. Joseph Academy, adds another feather to his cap as a light-up honoree this year. In addition to leading the Menorcan Cultural Society, he juggles responsibilities as President-elect of the St. Augustine Sunrise Rotary Club, Awards chairman for Rotary International District 6970, and President of the St. Joseph Academy Alumni Association. His counterpart, Craig, brings to the table a passion for Minorcan history and a founding role in The Minorcan Experience, which aims to educate and celebrate the cultural legacy through free events.
Making their way to British East Florida in 1768, over 1,400 settlers – among them Minorcan, Greek, Italian, Corsican, and French peoples – started a journey that would indelibly change St. Augustine. When they settled modern-day New Smyrna, they could not have foresaw fewer than 700 would endure to reach St. Augustine in 1777. There, they were granted land and sowed the seeds for what would become a vibrant part of the city's fabric.
For those interested in exploring further, the official announcement also details the contributions of the honorees, offering a glimpse into the historical importance of the evening and the honorees' part in the living tapestry that is St. Augustine's deep and multicultural history.
