BLACK MOUNTAIN, N.C. (828newsNOW) —
Festivalgoers in Black Mountain soon might be able to enjoy alcohol at certain special events under an ordinance approved Tuesday by the Black Mountain Town Council.
The ordinance allows event organizers to apply for alcohol permits for parades, festivals, and other special events. Organizers can create a “gated off area where you can drink alcohol,” according to Wesley Barker, the Black Mountain Town Clerk.
The new ordinance does not allow festivalgoers to “just walk into a store with a glass of wine” they purchased at another venue, says Barker. Consumption will be restricted to the venue where a person purchased the drink and a defined boundary outside within the festival’s vicinity.
Initially, the ordinance would have restricted the temporary gated, alcohol serving area to persons 21 or older. Barker explained this was left out of the final iteration of the ordinance to allow for family friendly events to serve alcohol as well.
Barker clarified that applications for the permits will be due 90 days prior to any scheduled event, down from the originally proposed 120 days.
The ruling comes after a months-long campaign by the organizers of the Black Mountain Blues festival to receive a special allowance to serve alcohol at their event from July 12 to 14.
Despite the apparent victory, the Black Mountain Blues fest has another hurdle to clear.
The “Blues festival may not get their permit,” said Barker. “The ABC permit has to come from the ABC Board in Raleigh.” If the ABC Board rejects their application, the Black Mountain Blues will not be permitted to serve alcohol outside.
The new ordinance was viewed as an alternative to a proposal that was rejected earlier this year to create a permanent downtown “social district” in Black Mountain.