Officials in Eureka Springs will get to see a test run of a downtown entertainment district this fall.
The Eureka Springs City Council voted 5-1 at its July 24 meeting to approve a temporary entertainment district where open containers of alcohol can be carried freely in a designated zone as part of the Oktoberfest Biergarten Beer Festival, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Eureka Springs. The event will be held Sept. 29-30.
“Oktoberfest is back in Eureka Springs and this year it’s bigger and better than ever,” the event’s website says. “Experience authentic German cuisine, locally crafted Oktoberfest beers, an extensive Biergarten, live music, drink specials, yodeling contests and more, taking place all around town.”
The beer garden and the main area of the festival will be set up in a parking lot on Main Street, across the street from New Delhi Cafe, according to Mayor Butch Berry.
“From there people will be able to go up … to Basin Park,” Berry said. “And then the district goes down to the end of Main and Spring Street and comes down here to The Auditorium. It will then circle back to Basin Park, the top of the rainbow staircase up to the intersection of Spring and Center.”
The entertainment district will be open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sept. 29 and Sept. 30 and no streets will be closed off, Berry said, adding that the temporary district would be the “second or third one” the city has had, but the first since COVID-19.
Eureka Springs voters have rejected a permanent downtown entertainment district in the past, but some council members think having a trial run is a good way to see how things go.
“I know this has been a hot topic and it did come to a vote,” council member Melissa Greene said. “It didn’t lose by much … and I think in a lot of ways this is a good idea. If we don’t try we’re never going to know if it’s a bad idea. So, I think we should give it a try.
“It doesn’t sound like something that’s going to be happening every week, every month.”
Council member Terry McClung agreed.
“I concur,” he said. “Let’s give it a shot and see how it shakes out.”
The lone dissenting vote came from council member Harry Meyer, who thinks attendees should limit their festival drinking to the event’s main parking lot.
“We don’t need empty beer cups thrown around in Basin Park or on the streets or anything, so I totally oppose this for that reason,” Meyer said. “Unless they keep it in the beer garden where they have to pick up trash.”
Council member Autumn Slane said the Rotary Club has discussed ways to ensure that the proper number of trash cans are in place throughout the area for attendees to use.
According to a website selling tickets for the event, attendees will wear a wristband for the entertainment district.
“Admission includes wristband for the Oktoberfest Entertainment District in Downtown Eureka Springs,” event listing on eventbrite. com says. “The Eureka Springs Oktoberfest includes live music in Basin Spring Park, 8 music venues, and 35 local small businesses participating in the festival.”
According to the resolution approved, “those persons who wish to possess or consume from an open alcoholic beverage container within the district or enter the district from an alcoholic beverage permitted establishment with an open container shall first obtain a yellow wristband that says Eureka Springs Entertainment District.”
“Approved beverage containers will be any non glass container with a capacity of less than 24 fluid ounces,” the resolution reads. “Music can only be performed and or played from the hours of 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Stage or broadcast area shall be located within the fenced area. Sound produced shall not exceed 85 decibels.
The resolution also states that the police and fire chiefs have the authority to suspend the entertainment district if necessary to “protect the public health, safety and welfare.”
