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St. Augustine commission adopts one-year Knights of Lights date change after heated public comment
Summary
After more than two hours of public comment from business owners, residents and county officials, the City Commission voted 3–2 to adopt a one‑year resolution setting Knights of Lights to run mid‑November through mid‑January while the city develops a mobility and safety plan.
The St. Augustine City Commission voted 3–2 to adopt a temporary change to the 2025 Knights of Lights schedule, setting dates to begin Nov. 15, 2025, and run through Jan. 11, 2026. The vote replaces an earlier staff-drafted resolution that would have set the event from Nov. 22, 2025, through Jan. 4, 2026.
The change was presented as a temporary, one‑year measure intended to give residents brief relief and provide time for the city, county and business groups to implement mobility and public‑safety measures ahead of next season. Vice Mayor Barbara Blonder introduced the idea that led to the final motion, and commissioners said the decision was meant to buy time for a larger traffic, public‑safety and vendor‑management plan.
The commission heard more than 60 members of the public during a lengthy hearing. Business owners and hospitality workers said shortening the festival would concentrate visitors into fewer dates and cause worse congestion, and they warned of severe revenue loss and layoffs for hourly employees. “If you shorten the season, it’ll just happen again on fewer days,” said Edwin Swift, operator of Old Town Trolley Tours, describing the effect of compressing demand onto remaining nights.
Residents and neighborhood representatives said traffic, blocked driveways and limited emergency access made the 2024 season untenable for people who live downtown. “Quality of life for our residents has deteriorated to the point that good people are leaving our community permanently,” Vice Mayor Barbara Blonder told the commission when explaining her proposal. She framed the resolution as a temporary step while the city pursues longer-term mobility improvements.
City staff described ongoing coordination with stakeholders and an intent to test mobility improvements at other large events before the November start. City Manager David Bircham and other staff said the King Street bridge replacement and other near‑term construction projects increase uncertainty about next season’s traffic patterns and argued for a cautious approach.
Commissioners also recorded a list of priorities to be pursued before the next season, including: refining a mobility plan for large events; coordinating with the St. Johns County Sheriff and the county on enforcement and traffic officers; exploring off‑site parking and shuttle contracts; improving pedestrian routes and restricted vendor placement; and assembling a budget for an event‑management program that could be cost‑shared among city, county, TDC and business groups.
The final resolution was explicitly temporary: commissioners stated it would be reconsidered after the city and stakeholders present measurable plans for resident access, public safety and event flow. The roll call vote was 3 in favor, 2 opposed.
Votes at a glance: Resolution 2025‑08 (Knights of Lights dates): passed 3–2, amended to Nov. 15, 2025–Jan. 11, 2026 (temporary, one year).
Next steps: Commissioners asked staff to return with a timeline and measurable milestones for the mobility and safety work, and to involve the county sheriff, the Tourist Development Council, the Chamber, business coalitions and neighborhood representatives in drafting operational plans for next season.
Context: The debate followed weeks of community emails, phone calls and two earlier public meetings; many downtown business owners argued Nights of Lights is a primary driver of winter revenue and of seasonal employment, while residents pressed for guaranteed through‑routes and emergency‑access plans during the event.
