Wine Festival in Veterans Park Gets the Go-Ahead

The July 13 Avon Lake Wine Festival in received a nod of approval from city leaders June 11 and will go on as planned, weather permitting.

Councilman Dan Bucci, who has helped organize the festival through the non-profit Avon Lake Waterfront group, reiterated to council that alcohol consumption, generally prohibited in all city parks, will limit consumption to 2-ounce samplers of wine for July 13 only. Bottles of wine from area wineries will be  sold, but the bottles must remain unopened while on park property.

“(Alcohol) Prohibition in the Lake House will remain,” Bucci said. Current plans call for an art show in the Lake House while the festival, which runs from 4 p.m. to dusk, is going on.

Council approved by a 6-1 vote June 11, to allow a one-day limited exception permit allowing alcohol in 

Councilman Larry Meiners, who voiced opposition to the festival, saying alcohol should not be permitted on city property, cast the lone “no” vote.

Bucci said off-duty , paid through the waterfront group, would be present to ensure rules and laws are being followed.

There is no rain date planned for festival.

Bucci added the city will bear no costs for any of the three festivals planned this summer, including the June 29 All-American Family Cookout Festival and Aug. 10 Avon Lake Heritage Festival. The group is hoping to highlight Avon Lake and its businesses.