- March 9, 2025
In an effort to make local events better, though not necessarily bigger, the Palm Coast City Council on Tuesday is expected to vote on whether the city should apply for its own liquor license and also establish Central Park, in Town Center, as a civic center.
At a workshop meeting last week, city officials appeared to be in consensus with both items.
“We’re following what the state is asking us to do,” City Manager Jim Landon told the council.
By declaring Central Park as a civic center, it would allow the city to apply for its own liquor license. Doing so would allow vendors catering events at Central Park to sell alcohol under the city’s license, which would allow more money to stay local, said Lisa Gardner, the city’s events coordinator.
“It allows us to reinvest our revenues into our own things,” Gardner said. “It’s really not going to have much change (on the events).”
The cost is $250 annually for the license and then $25 for the permit. In total, the city would pay about $325 per year for the license compared to about $1,550 for an unlimited retail license, which typically comes from out-of-area vendors from places such as Port St. Lucie or DeLand, Gardner said.
Designating Central Park as a civic center will help improve the local events, she said.
It will also allow the city to charge less for entrance fees. For example, last year’s entry into Rock 'n’ Rib Fest was $20. This year, it’s $3.
“My goal on these events is not to generate profit,” Palm Coast Mayor Jon Netts said. “My goal is to have fun things for our residents.”
Jacksonville Metropolitan Park, the city of Largo’s Central Park, Miramar Civic Center and Aquatic Complex and the Lakeland Sports Complex are all designated as civic centers.
Last year, the city brought in $16,700 in alcoholic beverage sales at Rib Fest. The council will also vote to approve the hiring of Fun Coast Bartending to staff the vendor pavilion, at a price of $1,250. The total estimated expenses for this year’s event is $6,200, Gardner said.
This year’s Rib Fest will feature the Long Run, an Eagles tribute band.
Historical Society searching for new home ... again
Nine months later, the Palm Coast Historical Society is once again looking for a permanentplace to stick.
Currently, the organization is housed at Matanzas High School — in about 900 square feet. But representatives were told earlier this week that the school needs to space for new education program. And so, less than a year later, the Historical Society needs help.
“This seems to be a perennial issue,” Netts said Tuesday. "I think we have an obligation to do something to assist them. ... At some point, they deserve a more permanent location.
In June 2012, the City Council debated where to locate the Historical Society, including options such as Holland Park, City Marketplace and a residence at Casper Drive.
