ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – St. Augustine’s Nights of Lights event kicks off Saturday, and while last year’s event caused significant traffic problems for both visitors and residents, city officials have spent about 10 months preparing to improve the experience this year.
Reuben Franklin, assistant city manager for St. Augustine, said the city is expecting a large crowd this year and is hopeful the efforts will pay off.
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To better manage crowds and traffic, the city will offer more shuttle service days and increase law enforcement presence to help circulate traffic.
Additionally, parking around the plaza on Cathedral Street will be removed during busy weekends and daily from Dec. 19 through Jan. 1 to expand pedestrian areas.
“We’re gonna use those parking spaces to widen the pedestrian areas, that also will control where pedestrians can cross, and those crossings will have police officers or sheriff’s officers helping assist with the crowd management,” Franklin explained.
Visitors Jamie and Jason Baas planned their anniversary trip to coincide with the event.
“We were actually looking to come here anyway,” Jamie said. “And then we found out it was Light Up Night, so then we... Went ahead and booked everything because we thought it’d be a fun time.”
A new Nights of Lights app is also available in the app store, providing information on parking, restrooms, restaurants, and activities. You can also find all the information on the city’s website.
City leaders hope to balance public safety with a fun holiday event.
Franklin said, “It’s a great event and I hope people make plans to come down and walk around our beautiful city and enjoy the lights and our great restaurants and shops in the area.”
Light Up Night festivities begin at 4 p.m. Saturday, with the lighting ceremony scheduled for 6:30 p.m.