| By Neil Johnson, reporter/anchor, Big Radio |
For the first time ever, the Rock County Fair board is seeking The city of Janesville’s blessing to operate a beer garden during this summer’s fair.
Rock County Fair board vice president Beth Burdick says the fair is asking Janesville’s city liquor board this coming week for a beer license. She says a beer garden would broaden the appeal for people in the 20s-t0-30s age demographic who come to see the annual fair’s music acts and entertainment at the fairground’s main stage.
Burdick says the fair would work with police on security issues, and a youth advocacy nonprofit would team up with the fair on ID scans at the gate.
Under the plan, the beer garden would be fenced and set up near the fairground’s main stage and operate all of fair week at times when entertainment runs.
Other fairs, including Walworth County Fair, and the Wisconsin State Fair, allow alcohol sales. Walworth County Fair allows people to move throughout the fairgrounds with beer. At the Rock County Fair, Burdick says consumption of beer would be limited to the fair’s beer garden.
She says depending on conversations the board would have with police, the beer garden might have “limits” set, although she didn’t elaborate.
It’s not the first time that Rock County Fair has tossed around the idea of beer sales at the fair, which runs a carnival, hosts daily and nightly entertainment, and operates during the daytime as a youth 4-H fair.
Burdick says the fair is not now seeking a beer garden out of financial necessity. But she says if sales are successful and the beer garden serves to boost fair attendance, it could help the fair broaden or improve its main stage entertainment in coming years.
She says the fair’s board unanimously voted to pursue a beer license.
City council member Paul Williams, who is also on the city’s liquor board says he wants to hear from those who live in the residential area surrounding the Rock County 4-H Fairgrounds.
Under state law, private fair groups are allowed to hold event beer licenses.
The fair runs July 23 – 28.