ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – St. Johns County leaders are set to meet Wednesday night about possible funding for one of St. Augustine’s most iconic events: the annual Nights of Lights.
But there’s some disagreement over how that money should be used — and that’s sparking concerns about how the event might look moving forward.
The St. Johns County Tourist Development Council voted unanimously to recommend $850,000 in additional funding for St. Augustine’s signature holiday event, which illuminates downtown with millions of holiday lights and draws thousands of visitors annually.
St. Augustine officials had sought $1 million in supplemental funding to help manage things like safety, parking and public restrooms. They say it’s all needed to keep the event running smoothly.
The current allocation from the county for Nights of Lights stands at $200,000 for shuttle services and $100,000 for lighting.
Half of the $200,000 for shuttle services is for spring shuttles, while the other half is exclusively for Nights of Lights.
Despite shortening the event by eight days, city officials emphasize the need for additional resources to manage growing attendance.
The additional $850,000 would go toward crowd control barricades, portable restrooms, and more parking — but some county leaders are pushing back, saying it’s not clear exactly how that money would be used.
City Manager David Birchim said there is an urgency in securing additional funding, stating, “If that’s not possible we will have to scale back.”
The suggested $850,000 allocation, while less than the city’s initial request, received unanimous support from council members.
The recommendation has advanced to the St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners, who will review the proposal at a 3 p.m. planning workshop Wednesday.