The Beach Blast Off at the St. Johns County Pier will take visitors through a lively series of games and activities, live music, a Kids Zone activity center with face painting and inflatable jungle gyms, and even a mechanical bull. It’s the city’s grandest event every year, and it culminates with the now-famous St. Augustine New Years’ fireworks triumphantly exploding over the ancient city.
St. Augustine is the place you want to be this New Year. How should you get the best view of the fireworks while visiting the city? Below is a guide to NYE fireworks in St. Augustine to welcome 2018. There are a few main areas to see the fireworks from, and each one is a little different.
St. Johns County Pier
The launching point for the fireworks is St. Augustine Beach at the St. Johns County Pier. It is located at 350 A1A Beach Blvd, St. Augustine, FL 32080, and it will be the home for festivities, face painting, and all the attractions of the Beach Blast Off.
If you want to be at the center of everything in St. Augustine, this is the place. Parking by the pier will be challenging.
Shuttles will bring people in from several nearby parking lots including Anastasia State Park, RB Hunt Elementary School, St. Augustine Amphitheatre, Amici’s Shopping Center Parking, Ron Parker Park, Reunion Bank on St. Augustine Beach, St. Augustine Beach City Hall Parking Lot, Anastasia Baptist Church, and the Harbour Island Executive Center. The shuttles will run from 5:30 to 11:00 pm.
Beach Access Points of the St. Johns County Pier
Once you head a bit south, the traffic may start to thin out. There are many small beach access points along Crescent Beach, that can be a fantastic place to see the fireworks as they are still close to the pier.
These beach access points are a bit away from the main action but offer a splendid opportunity to escape some of the noise and focus on a romantic New Year’s Eve or a family get-together.
Downtown and Avenida Menendez
Avenida Menendez lines right up against the inlet by the gorgeous Bridge of Lions, which is covered in holiday lights this time of year. If you want to see the fireworks from downtown without worrying about driving beachside, head to Avenida Menendez by the Matanzas Fort for a stellar (though distant) view.
A few restaurants in St. Augustine Beach will be offering great views of the fireworks in St. Augustine including the Sunset Grille and Salt Life Food Shack.
The Sunset Grille is a premier seafood restaurant in St. Augustine Beach with beautiful ocean views, while the Salt Life Food Shack offers casual sushi, burgers, and cocktails. Each restaurant will be featuring its own special New Year’s Eve entertainment schedule that you can call ahead of time to find more information about.
Call them at (904) 471-5555 for the Sunset Grille and (904) 217-3256 for the Salt Life Food Shack for more information on reserving a table, as these restaurants are likely to book up quickly.
Plan Your Next Visit
Call us at (800)-398-5980 for more information about our exclusive and luxurious resort rentals just 10 minutes south of all the fun this New Year’s Eve!
Further Details About the Beach Blast Off
Entrance into the Beach Blast Off is free, though there may be paid independent parking locations in the vicinity. Having access to a nearby resort in St. Augustine such as The Ocean Gallery can be very convenient for accessing the event.
Visitors will need tickets for the various games as well as drinks. Vendors are available to offer local food, beer, and champagne. There will also be a wine tent open. The Beach Blastoff features a Kids Zone, with art activities, a mechanical bull set-up, and other attractions. The event officially kicks off at 6 pm, though visitors will start coming earlier to play on the beach and get a parking spot. Fireworks in St. Augustine begin at 8:30 pm no matter where you are to see them.
The fireworks are massive and loud, and you are certain to hear them and see them from anywhere in the city. The quieter beaches have small groups with blankets, beach chairs, and coolers, while the activity at the St. Johns County Pier is a wild and huge event for all.
