Shakespeare in the Park organizers have requested City of Riverbank permission to serve wine at the festival both to attract a larger audience and raise funds to help keep the event free.
City staff said they would look into the matter and report back at the June 8 regular Riverbank City Council meeting.
Wine and other forms of alcohol are currently banned from Jacob Myers and all other city parks, Rio Arts artistic director Joey Huestis said, but the group is asking the council to lift that ban for this specific event and for the evening shows only at 7 p.m.
The proposal is to cordon off the Festivarian Grove (where plays will be presented at the far west end of the park for the first time this year) offer patrons a commemorative wine glass (plastic is available) entitling them to two pours only and ID all patrons with a wrist band.
Zavattero's Catering is the food vendor for the event and has a beer and wine license.
Santa Clara Art & Wine Festival, Shakespeare Santa Cruz, Pixie Woods Sunset Wine Festival in Manteca besides Riverbank's own Cheese & Wine Expo, Huestis said, are just a sprinkling of events held in city parks or on public land that allow wine as part of the festival experience and do not result in drunkenness, brawling, breaking of the laws or wild and loud people.
City staff said they would look into the matter and report back at the June 8 regular Riverbank City Council meeting.
Wine and other forms of alcohol are currently banned from Jacob Myers and all other city parks, Rio Arts artistic director Joey Huestis said, but the group is asking the council to lift that ban for this specific event and for the evening shows only at 7 p.m.
The proposal is to cordon off the Festivarian Grove (where plays will be presented at the far west end of the park for the first time this year) offer patrons a commemorative wine glass (plastic is available) entitling them to two pours only and ID all patrons with a wrist band.
Zavattero's Catering is the food vendor for the event and has a beer and wine license.
Santa Clara Art & Wine Festival, Shakespeare Santa Cruz, Pixie Woods Sunset Wine Festival in Manteca besides Riverbank's own Cheese & Wine Expo, Huestis said, are just a sprinkling of events held in city parks or on public land that allow wine as part of the festival experience and do not result in drunkenness, brawling, breaking of the laws or wild and loud people.
