ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. — Changes are coming to Night of Lights.

Monday night, the St. Augustine City Commission voted to change the dates of the popular holiday event that draws tens of thousands of people.

Commissioners have agreed this year’s dates will be Nov. 15, 2025 to Jan. 11, 2026 — seven days shorter than last year.

Len Weeks, president of the St. Augustine Business Coalition, proudly shows off his Nights of Lights shirt to the packed crowd at Monday night’s meeting.

Weeks was instrumental in starting the annual holiday lights display 31 years ago.

Decades later, Weeks along with other business owners in town spoke out in opposition of shortening the nights of lights dates. “I don’t believe shortening it is the answer,” he said. “We survive through Nights of Lights, it makes a tremendous difference in our ability to stay in business.”

Vice-mayor Barbara Blonder proposed a resolution changing the festival dates to be 20 days shorter, starting Nov. 22 and ending Jan. 4, 2026. However, after much public input and discussion amongst commissioners, a 3-2 vote, set the dates for this upcoming nights of lights to Nov. 15 to Jan. 11, 2026. 

“Maybe it’s not perfect but I think it’s a win-win for everybody,” Weeks said. “The city does a great job, but it’s gotten bigger than just the city can handle… Let’s just make it back to what it used to be a quaint charming event.”