ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – St. Augustine officials are seeking $1.2 million in county funding to improve the city’s signature Nights of Lights holiday celebration, following traffic and logistical challenges during last year’s event.
The St. Johns County Tourism Development Council unanimously approved a recommendation to grant the funding request, which represents a $1 million increase from last year’s allocation. The proposal now awaits final approval from the Board of County Commissioners.
Mayor Nancy Sikes-Kline said the additional funding would primarily support enhanced transportation options and visitor amenities.
“A large part of it is for increased shuttles. We want people to be able to park outside the perimeter of the city and ride shuttles into it,” Sikes-Kline said. The plan also includes funding for additional portable restrooms, pedestrian safety barriers, and improved lighting throughout the event area.
Following last year’s challenges with traffic congestion, city officials have already implemented changes for the upcoming season, including adjustments to the event schedule. The city plans to test some of these improvements during the upcoming July 4th celebrations.
“We’ll be running the shuttles and communicating more broadly,” Sikes-Kline said, describing the Independence Day event as a trial run for the winter holiday season.
The Nights of Lights celebration serves as a significant economic driver for St. Augustine during the holiday season. “It is a huge economic boost to the community for a very long period of time through the holidays, so people have very high expectations of that event,” Sikes-Kline explained.
While optimistic about receiving the full funding request, city officials are prepared to proceed with the event regardless of the final allocation. “They may not be able to get the full request amount, but we can manage no matter what. Hopefully, the staff will be able to find that full $1.2 million,” Sikes-Kline said.
The Tourism Development Council will further discuss the funding during their July 21 meeting. The city aims to showcase its historic architecture while ensuring a safe and accessible experience for visitors.
“We want to show off our architecture and our history, and we want people to feel safe here and comfortable. And we want them to be able to get in and out easily, or as easily as possible,” Sikes-Kline said.
