Submitted By: Michelle Taylor
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Presentation By: Endira Madraveren
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Department: Growth Management
STAFF RECOMMENDATION (Motion Ready):
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Resolution 2026-4 for the Downtown Event Zone to allow alcoholic beverage sales as part of the 2025 Ocala Art Festival Saturday and Sunday, October 25 and 26, 2025 (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: Fine Arts for Ocala, Inc. (FAFO) requests to utilize the city's Downtown Event Zone ordinance for the 2025 Ocala Art Festival to allow on-premises licensed vendors within the event zone to sell beer, wine, and liquor as part of the art festival being held on Saturday, October 25, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, October 26, 2025, 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
? District Bar & Kitchen
? Harry's Seafood
? Hilton Garden Inn
? Sushi Bistro
? Tipsy Skipper
? Mutiny Ocala
? Ivy on the Square
? Marion Theater
? Agapanthus
? Baron's Creek Vineyards
? The Lodge
? O'Malley's Alley
? Downtown Billiards
? Stella's Modern Pantry
? La Cuisine
? Cantina Tex Mex
? Mark's Prime
? Marion Cultural Alliance
? Black Sheep on Broadway
? 18 South Sports Bar
? Mellow Mushroom
The following vendors will not be participating or outside the FAFO event zone:
? Sipping Grounds
? Symmetry Coffee
? Sayulita Taqueria
? Katya Vineyards
FAFO has provided a Certificate of Liability insuring the City of Ocala. The Ocala Police Department and other city departments have reviewed the event layout and process for selling beer and wine during the event and did not identify any issues with the proposed event. Ocala police officers will be on-site to provide security throughout the event.
FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS:
* Section 6-9 of the Code of Ordinances, City of Ocala, Florida, provides an exceptio...
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