Alcohol lovers, you’ll want to circle this Friday, Aug. 24, on your calendar.
Downtown Champaign has been designated a “festival district” from 5-9 p.m., the first such designation in Champaign. The upshot: Customers at participating restaurants and bars will be able to purchase and take open containers of alcohol from the establishments to drink on public property with the festival district. The period will coincide with the final Friday Night Live of the season.
Participants must purchase alcohol from a bar or restaurant that is involved in the Festival District promotion. Those establishments will provide wristbands and serve beverages in paper or plastic “to-go” cups. Residents are not allowed to bring alcohol purchased elsewhere into the Festival District. The boundaries of the district will be marked with signs.
“We’ve received lots of requests from residents who want to responsibly consume alcohol while enjoying community festivals and public events in downtown Champaign,” Mayor Deborah Frank Feinen said. “When the City Council recently updated the city’s liquor ordinance, we included the ability to designate a Downtown Festival District to accomodate those who want to enjoy a cocktail while standing on the sidewalk and listening to some great music or partaking in other fun activities.”
More information about the Festival District and frequently asked questions are available on the city’s website.