Several upcoming events in Chatham-Kent are one step closer to selling booze after being deemed "municipally significant" by members of council.
Council voted unanimously to recognize The FunDaze hockey tournament, Chatham-Kent Ribfest, RetroFest, Tilbury Art in the Park and Chatham Art in the Park as significant to the municipality. Retrofest was originally seeking the recognition as well, but no longer needed it by the time it went before council.
In accordance with the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario, prior to applying for a special occasion permit, any event that plans to sell alcohol on municipal property must first be approved by the municipal council.
Chris Glassford, owner and operator of Summit Shows Canada, will be putting on Art in the Park in Chatham on June 14-16. He is also in charge of the beverage garden during Tilbury Art in the Park on August 17 and 18.
In a letter written to council, he touched on the importance of community events. He said it not just about selling alcohol, it's about bringing people a variety of options during these events.
"The beverage garden is family friendly," Glassford said. "Parents can bring their kids in, have their food, sit down, watch the bands and watch the entertainment."
Glassford said that at around 10 p.m. the beverage garden will be strictly for people 19 and older.
Now that the event has received its status as municipality significant, Glassford has begun working with craft distilleries and breweries in the area. He said events like these are a great way to showcase local talent and culture.
"This particular event I really wanted to emphasize craft. I wanted to emphasize creating something," said Glassford. "It's a lot different than having the domestic mass produced products or even the import products. It is something we want to promote, local and the art form of craft brew."
