St. Augustine Officials Consider Moving Sing Out Loud Festival Headliner Weekend to May
St. Augustine city officials are preparing to review a proposal that would move the Sing Out Loud Festival’s main headliner weekend at Francis Field to mid-May, while keeping the festival’s traditional September programming intact.
The proposal will be discussed at an upcoming meeting of the St. Augustine City Commission, which oversees major event approvals held on city property.
📍 St. Augustine City Hall
75 King Street, St. Augustine, FL
🔗 https://www.citystaug.com/
City Commission meeting agendas and schedules can be viewed here:
🔗 https://www.citystaug.com/368/City-Commission
One of St. Augustine’s Largest Music Events
The Sing Out Loud Festival, produced by SJC Cultural Events, has become one of the largest music festivals in Northeast Florida since launching in 2016.
🔗 Official Festival Website:
https://singoutloudfestival.com/
🔗 SJC Cultural Events:
https://www.sjculturalevents.com/
Each year, the festival features:
• National headlining artists
• Local and regional musicians
• Free and ticketed shows
• Music industry panels
• Songwriter showcases
The main headliner performances are held at Francis Field, located near historic downtown St. Augustine.
📍 Francis Field
25 W Castillo Drive, St. Augustine, FL
🔗 https://www.citystaug.com/Facilities/Facility/Details/Francis-Field-34
Major Economic Impact for St. Johns County
The Francis Field headliner weekend typically draws approximately 25,000 attendees and generates an estimated $9 million in economic impact, according to Dianya Markovits, Director of Public Relations and Partnerships for SJC Cultural Events.
Tourism plays a major role in the festival’s success.
According to festival data:
• Nearly 88% of attendees travel from outside St. Johns County
• Visitors come from all 50 U.S. states
• International visitors attend from at least 12 countries
These visitors support local hotels, restaurants, and businesses throughout St. Augustine.
Explore St. Augustine tourism information here:
🔗 https://www.visitstaugustine.com/
Why Organizers Want to Move the Headliner Weekend
Originally, organizers considered moving the main concert weekend to February. However, they now recommend mid-May as a better option.
According to SJC Cultural Events, the May timeframe offers several advantages:
• More comfortable weather
• Better artist touring availability
• Fewer scheduling conflicts
• Increased tourism during a slower travel season
Adding a major event in May could help support local businesses during a traditionally quieter time between spring break and summer vacation.
St. Johns County tourism plays a major role in the local economy, supporting thousands of jobs and businesses.
Learn more about St. Johns County tourism:
🔗 https://www.floridashistoriccoast.com/
September “Month of Music” Will Continue
Even if the headliner weekend moves, the rest of the Sing Out Loud Festival would remain in September.
Known as the “Month of Music,” the September portion includes events held throughout St. Augustine at local venues.
These events include:
• Local artist showcases
• St. Augustine Songwriters Festival
• Music industry panels
• Record fairs
• Live performances
Many events take place in downtown St. Augustine.
Explore downtown St. Augustine:
🔗 https://www.visitstaugustine.com/things-to-do/historic-district
Festival Has Raised Money for Conservation
Beyond entertainment, the Sing Out Loud Festival also supports local conservation efforts.
Last year, the festival raised more than $130,000 for land conservation, benefiting programs that help preserve natural areas in St. Johns County.
One beneficiary is the St. Johns County Land Acquisition Program, which protects environmentally sensitive land.
Five-Year Extension Also Under Review
In addition to the date change, SJC Cultural Events CEO Gabe Pellicer has requested a five-year extension of the festival’s license agreement with the City of St. Augustine.
This agreement allows the organization to continue hosting the festival at Francis Field.
According to Pellicer, the extension would provide:
• Long-term stability
• Better event planning
• Continued growth
Francis Field is one of the city’s primary event venues, hosting concerts, festivals, and community events.
City Commission to Make Final Decision
The St. Augustine City Commission is expected to review both proposals at its upcoming meeting.
If approved, the Sing Out Loud Festival would expand to include a new major concert weekend in May while continuing its traditional September programming.
The decision could further strengthen St. Augustine’s reputation as a major music and cultural destination in Florida.
About Sing Out Loud Festival
Since launching in 2016, Sing Out Loud has hosted major artists including:
Eric Church
Noah Kahan
The Lumineers
311
Festival lineup and updates:
🔗 https://singoutloudfestival.com/lineup/
