Mayor and Liquor Commissioner Deborah Frank Feinen has once again designated parts of Downtown Champaign as a Downtown Festival District from 5:00-9:00 p.m. on Friday, June 21, 2019. Customers of participating restaurants and bars will be able to purchase and take open containers of alcohol from the licensed premises for consumption on public property located within the boundaries of the Festival District. This is the second designation of a Downtown Festival District this year and coincides with the Friday Night Live event.
Downtown establishments electing to participate in this event will provide wristbands and serve alcoholic beverages in paper or plastic “to-go” cups to those customers who wish to enjoy the live music and consume alcohol on public property within the Festival District. Participants must purchase alcohol from a participating establishment and wear an official wristband in order to have open containers of alcohol on the public right-of-way. Residents are not allowed to bring alcohol purchased elsewhere into the Downtown Festival District. The boundaries of the Festival District will be delineated with signs and are shown on the attached map.
Section 5-62.2 of the City’s Liquor Ordinance allows the Liquor Commissioner to designate a Downtown Festival District and outlines the rules that participating establishments and customers must follow. More information about the Downtown Festival District, including a map and frequently asked questions are available on the City’s website: champaignil.gov/DowntownFestivalDistrict.
Media Contact: Matt Roeschley, Deputy Liquor Commissioner | 217-403-8710