Submitted By: Michelle Taylor
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Presentation By: Endira Madraveren
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Department: Growth Management
FORMAL TITLE:
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Resolution 2026-42 for the downtown event zone to allow alcoholic beverage sales (beer, wine, and liquor) as part of the Christmas-in-July event on July 25, 2026 (Quasi-Judicial)
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OCALA’S RELEVANT STRATEGIC GOALS:
Economic Hub, Quality of Place
PROOF OF PUBLICATION:
N/A
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BACKGROUND:
Southern Vine on Broadway, LLC, doing business as (DBA) Black Sheep on Broadway, has applied for a downtown event zone permit for on-premise licensed vendors located along SW Broadway Street between SW First Avenue and SW Second Avenue to be allowed to sell beer, wine, and liquor as part of the event from 2 to 8 p.m. The Christmas-in-July event will occur in the downtown event zone on Saturday, July 25, 2026. The following vendors will be participating:
• Black Sheep on Broadway
• District Bar & Kitchen
The following vendors will not be participating or are located outside of the downtown event zone:
• Sipping Grounds
• Symmetry Coffee Co.
• Say Taco
• Katya Vineyards
• Bank Street Patio Bar & Grille
• Big Hammock Brewery & Bites
• Brick City Southern Kitchen & Whisky Bar
• Harry’s Seafood Bar & Grille
• Hilton Garden Inn Ocala Downtown
• Sushi Bistro of Ocala
• The Tipsy Skipper Ocala
• Mutiny Bar Ocala
• Ivy on the Square
• Marion Theater
• Agapanthus
• Baron’s Creek Vineyards
• The Lodge Ocala
• O’Malley’s Alley
• Downtown Billiards
• Cantina Tex Mex Tequila Bar
• Mark’s Prime Steakhouse
• Marion Cultural Alliance at Brick City Center for the Arts
• Mellow Mushroom Ocala
• La Terrazza at 18 South
Southern Vine on Broadway, LLC, has provided a certificate of liability insuring the City of Ocala. The organization hosting the event is working with the Ocala Police Department and other City departments on the event layout, including street closures and any additional state licensing or permit requirements.
FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS:
Section 6-9 of the City’s Code of Ordinances provides an exception to allow for possession and consumption of alcoholic beverages on streets, sidewalks, and public parking facilities, inside the downtown event zone during the event times. This shall include only alcohol sales by on-premises licensed vendors within the downtown event zone. Section 6-9 states that such special events must be recognized and approved by a resolution approved by the City Council at a public hearing.
This proposed Christmas-in-July Downtown Event Zone would be the first event of 2026. Section 6-9(c)(4) provides for up to 12 annual permitted downtown events.
FISCAL IMPACT:
N/A
PROCUREMENT REVIEW:
N/A
LEGAL REVIEW:
This resolution will be reviewed and approved for form and legality by City Attorney, William E. Sexton.
ALTERNATIVE:
• Approve with Changes
• Table
• Deny
RESOLUTION 2026-42
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF OCALA, FLORIDA, PROVIDING FOR APPROVAL BY THE OCALA CITY COUNCIL FOR THE POSSESSION AND CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES (BEER, WINE, AND LIQUOR) FOR A DOWNTOWN EVENT ZONE SPECIAL EVENT (CHRISTMAS IN JULY) ON SATURDAY, JULY 25, 2026. HELD IN DOWNTOWN OCALA
WHEREAS, Section 6-9 of the Code of Ordinances, City of Ocala, Florida, provides an exception to allow for the possession and consumption of alcoholic beverages on streets, sidewalks, and public parking facilities for special events in the downtown event zone; and
WHEREAS, Section 6-9 states that such special events must be recognized and approved by resolution of the City Council at a public hearing; and
WHEREAS, the Christmas in July event will take place in the approved downtown event zone on Saturday, July 26, 2026, closing SW Broadway St between SW 1st Ave and SW 2nd; and
WHEREAS, Southern Vine on Broadway, LLC, doing business as (DBA) Black Sheep on Broadway has provided a list, shown below, of all licensed vendors within the event zone who will be participating and who will not be participating; and
WHEREAS, Southern Vine on Broadway, LLC, DBA Black Sheep on Broadway, has provided a description of the types and colors of open containers used during this special event. They will provide clear disposable cups with a “Christmas in July” sticker featuring a palm tree and sunset; and
WHEREAS, the Southern Vine on Broadway, LLC, DBA Black Sheep on Broadway, is the first event in 2026, of 12 annual permitted downtown events allowed by Section 6-9(c)(4); and
WHEREAS, the Ocala Police Department has reviewed this request for alcoholic beverages and has determined that four officers will be on-site to provide security throughout the event.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF OCALA, FLORIDA, in regular session duly assembled as follows:
This resolution adopted this ______ day of ______________________, 2026.
ATTEST: CITY OF OCALA
By: By:
Angel B. Jacobs Ire J. Bethea Sr.
City Clerk President, Ocala City Council
Approved as to form and legality:
By: _________________________________
William E. Sexton
City Attorney