Submitted By: Michelle Taylor
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Presentation By: David Sablan
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Department: Growth Management
FORMAL TITLE:
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Resolution 2027-6 to amend Resolution 2026-42 to change the event name from “Christmas in July” to “Christmas on Broadway”, reschedule the event from July 25, 2026, to December 13, 2026, and maintain authorization for the use of the downtown event zone for alcoholic beverage sales (beer, wine, and liquor)
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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 event was originally planned as “Christmas in July,” and City Council approved it on July 7, 2026. The event has been rescheduled and rebranded as “Christmas on Broadway” and will take place in the downtown event zone on Sunday, December 13, 2026. Southern Vine on Broadway, LLC, dba Black Sheep on Broadway, proposes allowing on-premises licensed vendors on SW Broadway Street between SW First Avenue and SW Second Avenue to sell beer, wine, and liquor as part of the event from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. The following vendors will be participating:
• Black Sheep on Broadway
• District Bar & Kitchen
The following vendors will not be participating as they are outside the proposed event zone:
• Sipping Grounds
• Symmetry Coffee
• Sayulita Taqueria
• Katya Vineyards
• Bank Street Patio Bar
• Big Hammock Brewery
• Brick City Southern Kitchen
• Harry’s Seafood
• Hilton Garden Inn
• Sushi Bistro
• Tipsy Skipper
• Mutiny Ocala
• Ivy on the Square
• Marion Theater
• Agapanthus
• Baron’s Creek Vineyards
• O’Malley’s Alley
• Downtown Billiards
• Cantina Tex Mex
• Mark’s Prime
• Marion Cultural Alliance
• Mellow Mushroom
• La Terrazza
Black Sheep on Broadway has provided the City of Ocala with a certificate of liability insurance and is working with the Ocala Police Department and other departments on the event layout and the process for selling alcohol during the event.
FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS:
Section 6-9 of the Code of Ordinances, City of Ocala, Florida, provides an exception allowing possession and consumption of alcoholic beverages on streets, sidewalks, and public parking facilities within 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.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Christmas on Broadway event will bring entertainment to downtown Ocala and promote the entire area.
PROCUREMENT REVIEW:
N/A
LEGAL REVIEW:
This resolution has been reviewed and approved for form and legality by City Attorney, William E. Sexton.
ALTERNATIVE:
• Approve with Changes
• Table
• Deny
RESOLUTION 2027-6
AN AMENDMENT TO RESOLUTION 2026-1654 OF THE CITY OF OCALA, FLORIDA, PROVIDING FOR APPROVAL BY THE OCALA CITY COUNCIL TO CHANGE THE NAME OF THE DOWNTOWN EVENT ZONE SPECIAL EVENT FROM “CHRISTMAS IN JULY” TO “CHRISTMAS ON BROADWAY”, CHANGING THE EVENT DATE FROM SATURDAY, JULY 25, 2026, TO SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2026, AND MAINTAINING AUTHORIZATION FOR THE POSSESSION AND CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES (BEER, WINE, AND LIQUOR) DURING THE EVENT 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 originally approved Christmas in July event will now take place in the approved downtown event zone on Sunday, December 13, 2026; and
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, Southern Vine on Broadway, LLC, 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
The on-premise licensed vendors that will sell beer, wine, and liquor for consumption in the event zone as part of the Christmas on Broadway event on Sunday, December 25, 2026, from 2:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. are: Black Sheep on Broadway & District Bar & Kitchen.
The following vendors will not be participating or outside the FAFO event zone: Bank Street Patio Bar, Big Hammock Brewery, Brick City Southern Kitchen, District Bar & Kitchen, Harry’s Seafood, Hilton Garden Inn, Sushi Bistro, Tipsy Skipper, Mutiny Ocala, Ivy’s on the Square, Marion Theater, Agapanthus, Baron’s Creek Vineyards, O’Malley’s Alley, Downtown Billiards, Cantina Tex Mex, Mark’s Prime Steakhouse, Marion Cultural Alliance, La Terrazza at 18 South and Mellow Mushroom.; and
WHEREAS, Southern Vine on Broadway, LLC, dba Black Sheep on Broadway has provided a description of the type and color of open containers being used during this special event; and
WHEREAS, the Southern Vine on Broadway, LLC, dba Black Sheep on Broadway is the first of 12 permitted downtown events allowed by Section 6-9(c)(4) in 2025; 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