Beer to be sold at fairgrounds for the first time
Drinks can only be consumed in two areas
The beer garden will be located just north of the grandstand, which is down and to the left of these food stands. Photo by ALLISON WOOD
MEDINA – For this first time in its history, the Medina County Fair will be selling alcohol at the fairgrounds.
Beer and a few malt beverages will be sold and available to patrons Monday through Saturday from 4-10 p.m. during fair week; beverages must be consumed in either the 40-by-30-foot landscaped beer garden area just north of the main grandstand or in the grandstand itself during events.
The path to start beer sales at the fair was a long one and was due to the work of several members of a special Medina County Fair Board committee.
“We were mostly concerned about creating healthy revenue,” said Sue Arters, one of the co-chairs of the beer garden committee. “It took awhile to get the board sold.”
She said the idea of beer sales first came up about 10 years ago, but recalled it was quickly rejected by the Fair Board. However, opinions have changed since that time, with more venues, including college stadiums, now selling beer and other alcoholic beverages.
In early 2016, Arters and some other Fair Board members brought up the idea again after they attended a beer sales panel at the Fair Managers Association conference in Columbus.
“Why aren’t we doing this? It’s easy revenue,” she said. “We need to try this again.”
Arters and a few others got to work on how to introduce beer sales to the fair, which included researching 17 other county fairs that sell alcohol, learning about prices, setup, permit procedures and security measures. Statewide, about 35 county fairs sell alcohol.
The committee then created a plan and researched possible concerns and objections raised by Fair Board members. They also had to learn which permits to obtain and other regulations concerning alcohol sales.
The proposal allowing beer sales eventually got approval from a majority of Fair Board members, but Arters said there is a minority who were opposed and still are. Overall, she said the public reception has been mostly positive and hasn’t heard much opposition.
The Fair Board also had to approve a change to its constitution, which prohibited alcohol possession on the fairgrounds.
Members of the Buckeye Sports Boosters will serve as bartenders and received the necessary training, which was paid for by Tramonte Distributing, the fair’s distributor. While the group will receive a lump sum from the Fair Board for their work, all the proceeds from tip jars will go towards the boosters, Arters said.
Everyone will need an ID to buy beer as they will be scanned by workers before receiving a wristband, Arters said. Only two beers can be purchased at a time, and customers must purchase tickets before going up to the bar, which will have two sides to accommodate both grandstand attendees and beer garden customers. All drinks will be served in aluminum cans or bottles.
Drinks are $6 each and offerings include Miller Genuine Draft, Miller Lite, Summer Shandy, Mike’s Black Cherry and Henry’s Orange, Arters said.
Anyone is welcome to come into the beer garden, but will need ID to buy a drink, Arters said, a move allowing parents to bring their children inside or for non-drinkers to go inside with those who wish to drink. A police officer will be stationed outside the area.
Arters said the committee decided not to have Sunday sales this year out of respect to church groups who are at the fairgrounds.
“We’re trying to take baby steps and not step on toes,” she said.
After over 18 months of work, Arters said she is excited to see how sales will go for the first year.
“I really hope it is successful,” she said.
Beer and a few malt beverages will be sold and available to patrons Monday through Saturday from 4-10 p.m. during fair week; beverages must be consumed in either the 40-by-30-foot landscaped beer garden area just north of the main grandstand or in the grandstand itself during events.
The path to start beer sales at the fair was a long one and was due to the work of several members of a special Medina County Fair Board committee.
“We were mostly concerned about creating healthy revenue,” said Sue Arters, one of the co-chairs of the beer garden committee. “It took awhile to get the board sold.”
She said the idea of beer sales first came up about 10 years ago, but recalled it was quickly rejected by the Fair Board. However, opinions have changed since that time, with more venues, including college stadiums, now selling beer and other alcoholic beverages.
In early 2016, Arters and some other Fair Board members brought up the idea again after they attended a beer sales panel at the Fair Managers Association conference in Columbus.
“Why aren’t we doing this? It’s easy revenue,” she said. “We need to try this again.”
Arters and a few others got to work on how to introduce beer sales to the fair, which included researching 17 other county fairs that sell alcohol, learning about prices, setup, permit procedures and security measures. Statewide, about 35 county fairs sell alcohol.
The committee then created a plan and researched possible concerns and objections raised by Fair Board members. They also had to learn which permits to obtain and other regulations concerning alcohol sales.
The proposal allowing beer sales eventually got approval from a majority of Fair Board members, but Arters said there is a minority who were opposed and still are. Overall, she said the public reception has been mostly positive and hasn’t heard much opposition.
The Fair Board also had to approve a change to its constitution, which prohibited alcohol possession on the fairgrounds.
Members of the Buckeye Sports Boosters will serve as bartenders and received the necessary training, which was paid for by Tramonte Distributing, the fair’s distributor. While the group will receive a lump sum from the Fair Board for their work, all the proceeds from tip jars will go towards the boosters, Arters said.
Everyone will need an ID to buy beer as they will be scanned by workers before receiving a wristband, Arters said. Only two beers can be purchased at a time, and customers must purchase tickets before going up to the bar, which will have two sides to accommodate both grandstand attendees and beer garden customers. All drinks will be served in aluminum cans or bottles.
Drinks are $6 each and offerings include Miller Genuine Draft, Miller Lite, Summer Shandy, Mike’s Black Cherry and Henry’s Orange, Arters said.
Anyone is welcome to come into the beer garden, but will need ID to buy a drink, Arters said, a move allowing parents to bring their children inside or for non-drinkers to go inside with those who wish to drink. A police officer will be stationed outside the area.
Arters said the committee decided not to have Sunday sales this year out of respect to church groups who are at the fairgrounds.
“We’re trying to take baby steps and not step on toes,” she said.
After over 18 months of work, Arters said she is excited to see how sales will go for the first year.
“I really hope it is successful,” she said.