Chamber statement on proposed change to Nights of Lights dates
Statement of the St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce to the City of St. Augustine City Commission
Monday, March 24, 2025
Good evening, Mayor and Commissioners.
My name is Isabelle Renault, President and CEO of the St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce, representing 1,000 businesses countywide, including over 250 in the City of St. Augustine. I appreciate the opportunity to share our perspective on the proposed resolution.
For 30 years, Nights of Lights has been one of St. Augustine’s most successful and impactful events, created to support local businesses through the slow winter months. Today, it generates 25% of the hospitality sector’s annual income, supports thousands of local jobs, and contributes millions in sales and bed taxes to the City’s budget.
That success, however, has naturally brought new challenges — particularly around mobility and traffic management. The Chamber believes the challenge we’re facing is not the event itself, but the growing strain on infrastructure impacting public safety, residents’ quality of life, and the visitor experience. These are solvable problems, and we are ready to work alongside the City, County, and other stakeholders to develop long-term solutions.
Other cities face similar challenges. Barcelona, Spain, recently made headlines for tackling the same issue and adopting a Comprehensive Tourism and Mobility Plan that protects both economic benefits and residents’ quality of life. Collaboration was key — and our local business community is ready to do the same here in St. Augustine.
What’s needed is thoughtful planning, not a short-term workaround. Simply shortening Nights of Lights may not solve the problem. In fact, it could unintentionally worsen congestion by squeezing the same number of visitors into fewer days
We’re also mindful of the King Street Bridge construction, which may discourage locals from patronizing downtown businesses. During that time, companies will rely even more on the economic boost Nights of Lights provides.
For many small downtown businesses, Nights of Lights is their last and best chance each year to recover from hurricane season losses and finish the year strong. Shortening the season threatens that fragile balance and puts jobs at risk.
Finally, we support City Manager David Bircham’s efforts to implement and test mobility improvements during the upcoming 4th of July festivities. We respectfully ask the Commission to give that process the time it needs to succeed.
For all these reasons, the Chamber urges the Commission to oppose this resolution, reducing the event to November 22 through January 4. If the Commission moves forward, we ask you to reconsider the length of the reduction in January, as many locals value enjoying the event during that time.
Beyond today’s vote, we believe the greater priority is committing to long-term solutions. We respectfully ask the City, County, and stakeholders to work together on lasting improvements that protect our residents, support our economy, and ensure the continued success of Nights of Lights.
Thank you.