St. Johns County Commissioner Ann Taylor is calling on St. Augustine leaders to reverse their decision to shorten the popular Nights of Lights festival, saying the move will wound local businesses without solving the congestion woes that prompted the change.
Speaking at a commission meeting Tuesday, Taylor criticized the city’s 3-2 vote earlier this year to trim the event by eight days.
The 2025 festival is now set to run from Nov. 15 through Jan. 11, instead of extending through the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend as in past years.
“We did not get complaints in January. January was not a problem,” Taylor said. “So by shortening it in January, it took away a lot of funding — it hurt a lot of our businesses. There were a number of events planned in January. We had a three-day MLK holiday weekend, hotels were booked, weddings were planned. There was absolutely no reason to shorten Nights of Lights in January when January was never the problem.”
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Taylor argued the cut has upped financial pressures for the hospitality industry, which relies heavily on the festival to carry them through the winter.
“It did nothing but cause damage by cutting two weeks,” she said. “I would love for this to be revisited. I don’t know if it’s too late, but I would be thrilled if the city would reconsider going back to where it was for the sake of these businesses.”
Her remarks add a new wrinkle to a debate that has divided residents and business owners.
City officials scaled back the event after a torrent of resident complaints about traffic gridlock, crowds and overflowing trash during the Old City’s signature event.
But business leaders, including hoteliers and restaurant owners, warned the move would take away crucial revenue during a period that helps to sustain them year round.
Taylor’s remarks came as the St. Johns Board of County Commissioners approved $850,000 in funding for this year’s event, up from $200,000 last year.
