National Geographic: City's holiday lights among top 10 in the world
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Think the more than 2 million white holiday lights starring downtown are more than a little fetching?
You’re not alone.
National Geographic magazine editors agreed, recently naming the display one of the 10 best locations in the world to see holiday lights, according to its website.
And that could amount to more visitors here.
“Its an honor,” said Glenn Hastings, executive director of the county’s Tourist Development Council. “It’s hard to say how more visitors you will have as a result of it, but I think it’s going to be significant.”
It remains to be seen how significant that boost will be; it depends on what the area does with the honor.
Others in the top 10 include Brussels, Copenhagen, Madrid and Kobe, Japan.
Only one other U.S. city got the nod: Callaway Gardens, Ga.
City Manager John Regan said public-private partnerships made the 18-year-old event into the welcome spectacle it is now.
“What a team effort — by the city, by the businesses, by the residents — for us all to decorate our city and receive such a honor,” Regan said. “I think the Nights of Lights reflects the positive spirit of the community.”
National Geographic’s photo, taken from northwest of the Lightner, shows the museum and its light-wrapped palms.
“Once under Spanish rule, this 16th-century city fetes its heritage,” the caption reads. “Single white candles once flickered from colonists’ windows; during Nights of Lights, the 144-square-block historic district twinkles with two million bulbs (each white, per city ordinance).”
Jay Humphreys, communications director for the St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra & the Beaches Visitors & Convention Bureau, said the award adds gravitas to the city’s “European appeal.”
“I don’t think it was a competitive vote for your favorite, but to have National Geographic single it out ... is one of those things money couldn’t buy,” he said. “Obviously, to be in the top 10 in the world — you can’t get much better than that; You would have to go to the solar system and universe to get to the next level.”
“We’ll work on that,” Humphreys added.
Hastings said the event has slowly grown its audience, which this year is “phenomenal.”
“People have been in line every night to see the Nights of Lights tours,” he said. “More people than ever have come to see the lights.”
Hastings said the local Visitors & Convention Bureau should play up the honor because “it doesn’t guarantee us anything; we have to take responsibility and make it work for us.”
As happy as Regan was with the designation, he said there was still room for improvement.
“Just like decorating your home, we are thinking of ways to make it better next year,” Regan said. “We’re always thinking.”
The lights stay on through Jan. 31.
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“I think Nights of Lights has become a mainstay for all of Florida. Its reputation continues to grow and I think this kind of recognition is unbelievable, especially because National Geographic is one of the most respected publications in the world.”
— Jay Humphreys, communications director for St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra & the Beaches Visitors & Convention Bureau
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National Geographic’s top 10
(in no particular order)
St. Augustine, Fla.
Callaway Gardens, Ga.
Vienna
Brussels
Hong Kong
Madrid
Copenhagen
Kobe, Japan
Medellin, Colombia
Gothenburg, Sweden
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See the slideshow:
Go to http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/top-10/holiday-lights-photos to see all 10 cities.
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