Submitted By: Michelle Taylor
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Presentation By: Aubrey Hale
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Department: Growth Management
FORMAL TITLE:
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Resolution 2027-4 to utilize the downtown event zone to allow alcoholic beverage sales (beer, wine, and liquor) as part of the 2026 Ocala Art Festival Saturday and Sunday, October 24 and 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:
The Ocala Art Festival is an annual event that will occur in the downtown event zone on Saturday and Sunday, October 24 and 25, 2026. Fine Arts for Ocala, Inc. (FAFO), as the organizer of the event, is proposing that on-premise licensed vendors within the event zone be allowed to sell beer, wine, and liquor as part of the art festival on Saturday, October 24, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, October 25, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The following vendors will be participating:
• Bank Street Patio Bar
• Big Hammock Brewery
• Brick City Southern Kitchen & Whiskey Bar
• District Bar & Kitchen
• Tipsy Skipper
• Mutiny Ocala
• Ivy on the Square
• Marion Theater
• Baron’s Creek Vineyards
• Downtown Billiards
• Cantina Tex Mex
• Marion Cultural Alliance
• Black Sheep on Broadway
• 18 South Restaurant & Saloon
• Mellow Mushroom
• La Terazza
• First Ave Bar & Bistro
• O’Malley’s Alley
The following vendors will not be participating:
• Hilton Garden Inn Ocala Downtown
• Mark’s Prime Steakhouse
• The Thirsty Cobbler
• Mooyah Burgers
FAFO has provided a certificate of liability, attached to this agenda item, insuring the City of Ocala.
FAFO is working with the Ocala Police Department and other City departments regarding the event layout and process for selling beer, wine, and liquor during the event. A copy of the conditional permit is attached.
This will be the second event permitted to use the Downtown Event Zone, but the first to actually take place. City Council approved the first event, “Christmas in July,” submitted by Black Sheep on Broadway, and it was scheduled for July 25, 2026. After approval, the applicant chose not to proceed with the event.
FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS:
Section 6-9 of the Code of Ordinances, City of Ocala, Florida, 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 only include alcohol sales by on-premises licensed vendors in the Downtown Event Zone. Section 6-9 states that the City Council must recognize and approve such special events by resolution at a public hearing.
Staff recommends approval.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The 2026 Ocala Art Festival will bring entertainment and visitors to downtown Ocala, supporting the downtown core economy.
PROCUREMENT REVIEW:
N/A
LEGAL REVIEW:
The City Attorney, William E. Sexton, will review and approve this resolution for form and legality.
ALTERNATIVE:
• Approve with Changes
• Table
• Deny
RESOLUTION 2027-4
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 TWO-DAY SPECIAL EVENT (2026 OCALA ART FESTIVAL) ON SATURDAY/SUNDAY, OCTOBER 24 & 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 Ocala Art Festival will take place in the approved downtown event zone on Saturday & Sunday, October 24 & 25, 2026; and
WHEREAS, Fine Arts for Ocala, Inc. (FAFO) has provided a list, shown below, of all licensed vendors within the event zone who will be participating and who will not be participating;
The on-premise licensed vendors that will sell beer, wine, and liquor for consumption in the event zone (see Exhibit “A”) as part of the art festival on Saturday, October 24, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and on Sunday, October 25, 2026, from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm are: Bank Street Patio Bar, Big Hammock Brewery, Brick City Southern Kitchen & Whiskey Bar, District Bar & Kitchen, Tipsy Skipper, Mutiny Ocala, Ivy on the Square, Marion Theater, Baron’s Creek Vineyards, Downtown Billiards, Cantina Tex Mex, Marion Cultural Alliance, 18 South Restaurant & Saloon, O’Mally’s Ally, Mellow Mushroom, La Terazza, First Avenue Bar & Bistro and Black Sheep on Broadway.
The following vendors will not participate or will be outside the FAFO event zone: Hilton Garden Inn Ocala Downtown, Mark’s Prime Steakhouse, The Thirsty Cobbler, and Mooyah Burgers.
WHEREAS, Fine Arts for Ocala, Inc. (FAFO) has provided a description of the type and color of open containers being used during this special event; and
WHEREAS, the Ocala Art Festival will be the first held event of 12 permitted downtown events allowed by Section 6-9(c)(4) in 2026; and
WHEREAS, the Ocala Police Department has reviewed this request for alcoholic beverages and has determined that 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