ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – Sunday night marked the last night of St. Augustine’s annual Nights of Lights celebration, which has long been a holiday staple, drawing thousands of visitors.
This season, however, the light show not only brought in tourism dollars but also reignited concerns over downtown traffic congestion.
The increased popularity of the event led to more visitors and busier streets, which local businesses say translated into greater profits. Kristy Schaffer, the manager of Gringos Tacos, noted that the influx of people made this year more successful than previous seasons.
“This season’s Nights of Lights definitely seemed busier than previous ones,” Schaffer said. “We just kind of expect it to be busy.”
After speaking with the Visitor and Convention Bureau earlier in the month, News4JAX learned that this year’s Nights of Lights celebration provided a much-needed boost for tourism in St. Augustine after a challenging year in 2024.
Restaurants, hotels, and other businesses were able to recover some of their revenue losses thanks to the increased foot traffic.
But the spike in visitors also created frustration among residents, who voiced their concerns at a city commission meeting last month. The crowded streets led to calls for changes to better balance tourism with livability for residents.
Schaffer says she hopes that if changes are made to the annual event, it’s not drastic and wouldn’t cause harm to businesses in the area.
“It’s a small area and everyone packs into one location, so it’s I don’t know what can be changed,” she said. “I don’t know if I’d expect anything to be changed.”
The city manager is expected to present a report with recommendations to address traffic issues at a commission meeting on Feb. 10. This report could shape the future of the beloved holiday tradition while addressing the concerns of residents.