Beer and wine can be had at city park special events. Why not liquor? Boise City Council is considering the question.
Proposed changes to Boise City Code were presented before city council Tuesday to allow for the inclusion of liquor — alongside beer and wine — at permitted special events in select parks. This change intends to respond to the “changing preferences” in the community and allow for a broadening of revenue opportunities, Andrea Cantor, Boise’s economic development advisor, said in the council’s Tuesday work session.
In 2023, there were about 60 special events — events with an estimated 1,000 or more attendees — approved through the city clerk’s office, with 40 of these events taking place in a park, Cantor said.
“They’re such a huge asset to our community … so I really appreciate anything we can do to help offset their costs for them and make the process less restrictive where we can,” Meredith Stead, council president pro tem, said.
Boise Pride and Treefort Music Fest, both of which are permitted special events, approached the city and expressed interest in seeing changes made to open up the ability to offer liquor, Cantor said.