Candlelight and Community: First‑Ever Concert Illuminates Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse Outstanding Natural Area

The Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse Outstanding Natural Area (ONA) glowed with extraordinary warmth on March 6, as it hosted its first‑ever Candlelight Concert, an event presented by the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse & Museum under a Bureau of Land Management special recreation permit. 

Peter De Witt, BLM’s Program Manager for the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse ONA, who monitored the event as part of the special recreation permit process, also reflected on the broader significance of the evening. 

“Public lands have a remarkable ability to bring people together,” Peter said. “Through our permit program, we’re able to support recreational experiences that are safe, meaningful, and deeply personal. Nights like this help create memories that tie individuals and families to these special places for a lifetime.” 

The Candlelight Concert underscores how creative partnerships and well‑designed special recreation permits can expand public engagement while honoring the natural and cultural values of the nation’s only east‑coast Outstanding Natural Area. 

The evening featured two back‑to‑back performances by a professional string quartet, bringing exceptional musicianship to one of Florida’s most cherished coastal landmarks. The first half of the program delivered a heartfelt, fully instrumental set of Beatles classics—though that didn’t stop the audience of approximately 200 guests from enthusiastically singing along to their favorite tunes. The second half shifted to the timeless beauty of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, blending classical elegance with the rhythm of the ocean breeze and the iconic silhouette of the lighthouse. 

More than two thousand LED candles illuminated the grounds, transforming the ONA into a radiant landscape of light and reflection. The evening celebrated not just music, but the deep cultural and natural significance of the site, highlighting how public lands can support community wellness, including raising awareness of the benefits of music therapy. 

During the concert, Chris Nelisen, Chair of the Board of the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse & Museum, the meaning of the place and the music for their family. 

“This lighthouse has always been a source of strength and connection for our family,” Chris said. “To combine its history with the power of music in this setting is truly meaningful.” 

As guests departed beneath thousands of flickering candlelight and the gentle sound of the inlet, many expressed the hope that this inaugural concert will grow into a beloved new tradition for the Jupiter community.