Downtown Festival Districts
A Downtown Festival District allows customers of participating downtown restaurants and bars to purchase and take open containers of alcohol from the licensed premises and consume the beverage in the public right-of-way located within a designated area and limited timeframe. Alcohol must be purchased from a participating downtown business (no bring your own beverage), which will give the patron a City-branded wristband and cup from which the individual can consume their purchased alcoholic beverage in the public right-of-way. More information below in the frequently asked questions section.
Declared Events
There are currently no declared Downtown Festival Districts
Downtown Festival District Regulations
To learn more about City regulations concerning Downtown Festival Districts, please review City Code section 5-62.2 and Rule 26 in the Rules of the Local Liquor Commissioner.
Frequently Asked Questions
Guest Questions
Participants can only carry or consume alcoholic beverages on public property when a Downtown Festival District has been designated. Carrying an open container or consuming alcohol on public property at any other time is prohibited.
The boundaries of a Downtown Festival District can vary but will generally include the core business area of Downtown Champaign, including the area around participating bars and restaurants. Specific boundaries will be established and promoted on this website for each specific event. At the time of the event, signs will also be conspicuously posted around the perimeter of the Downtown Festival District to provide a visual reminder of the boundaries to those participating.
No, you cannot bring your own alcohol into the Downtown Festival District. All alcoholic beverages being consumed on public property in a Downtown Festival District must be purchased from a licensed bar or restaurant within the Festival District. Downtown establishments that sell liquor are not required to participate or to allow alcohol to be taken from their premises.
Downtown liquor establishments that have chosen to participate in the Festival District must provide a wristband to anyone who purchases an alcoholic beverage for consumption on public property. The wristband is a visual way to confirm the individual consuming alcohol in public is of legal drinking age and that they purchased the beverage from a participating establishment within the Downtown Festival District.
Downtown establishments that sell liquor are not required to participate or to allow alcohol to be taken from their premises. Downtown restaurants and bars that have chosen to participate must follow certain additional rules, including issuing wristbands and serving “to-go” alcoholic beverages in paper or plastic cups.
No. Consumption of alcohol in any City-owned parking lot or parking deck is prohibited and outside the boundaries of the Downtown Festival District.
Champaign police officers and other security personnel will patrol the Downtown Festival District and surrounding areas to ensure that participants are following the rules and acting in a responsible manner. Police will provide reminders and guidance for those who appear unsure of the rules or the boundaries of the Downtown Festival District. Liquor establishments participating in the Downtown Festival District are also required to follow and enforce liquor rules as required by City Code.
To protect the public from hazards associated with broken glass, alcoholic beverages carried or consumed in public within the Festival District must be in a plastic or paper container.
Liquor Licensee Questions
In general, Class A, R, and RT licensees located within the designated Downtown Festival District are eligible to participate and sell alcohol for consumption within the Downtown Festival District. Licensees must first submit an application to the Liquor Commissioner. For specifics rules and regulations licensees should review Rule 26 in the Rules of the Local Liquor Commissioner.
No, licensees are not required to sell alcohol for public consumption in the Downtown Festival District. Participation is voluntary.
Is there a special license or fee to sell alcohol for consumption in the Downtown Festival District?
Yes, eligible licensees must submit an application to the Liquor Commissioner and be approved in order to participate in a Downtown Festival. The application is only for the duration of specific Downtown Festival District dates as designated by the Liquor Commissioner.
Yes. Alcoholic beverages sold for public consumption in the Festival District MUST be served in plastic cups provided by the City. No glass, bottles, or aluminum containers are permitted in the Downtown Festival District.
In addition to the Liquor Ordinance that all licensees are required to follow, licensees must also abide by all the Rules of the Local Liquor Commissioner. Licensees should carefully review Rule 26, which pertains to Downtown Festival Districts.
Wristbands are provided by the City to licensees who choose to participate in the Downtown Festival Districts. Wristbands are used to verify the wearer is of legal drinking age and that the individual purchased their alcoholic beverage within the Downtown Festival District. Wristbands will help both licensed establishments and law enforcement.
No. Wristbands are provided to participating licensees free of charge. A licensee may not charge a customer a fee, directly or indirectly, for a Downtown Festival District wristband.
