Sacramento goes ahead with an initiative aimed at revitalizing nightlife in the city center and the city center, and to support local businesses. On Tuesday, the municipal council unanimously approved an order establishing three “entertainment zones”. The areas will allow participants in the special event to wear and consume alcoholic drinks in public spaces such as sidewalks and streets.
Entertainment areas are modeled after programs similar to San Francisco and Santa Monica, where managers claim that the approach has contributed to increasing pedestrian traffic and revenues of local bars and restaurants. The three Sacramento entertainment areas include the 20th and K streets in the Midtown Lavender Heights district, the area around the Safe Credit Union Convention Center and Place Ali Youssefi along the rue K between the 7th and 8th streets.
“This is not a law or an open area 24/7,” said Emily Baime Michaels, executive director of the Midtown Association. “It is the alcohol of pre-approved companies during the period when there is a special event in progress.”
The prescription makes it possible to sell drinks by bars and restaurants under license during authorized events. People will be able to walk in the entertainment areas designated with their drinks, provided they meet age requirements and use brand containers.
Each entertainment area is subject to a series of directives, including the security plans approved by the Sacramento Police Service, identity verification and the limits of marking of physical signaling. Alcohol cannot be brought from outside the area and companies must always comply with the rules of the ABC state.
Although mainly closely associated with nightlife, entertainment areas apply to events organized between 10 a.m. and midnight. Events with entertainment areas could include brunch markets at the end of the morning, afternoon artistic walks and evening concerts.
Bob Simpson is the owner of the city center Malt & Mash and Townnie. He says that new areas abolish the obstacles that have long prevented companies from participating and benefiting financially from special events.
“Often with street festivals, fencing increased and neighboring companies could not participate,” he said. “This kind of breakdown these obstacles.”
The member of the Council Phil Pluckebaum represents the district where the three entertainment areas are located. He declared that the order concerns the responsible pleasure and the flexibility of owners of local businesses.
“It’s not Gras Tuesday, not like Bourbon Street,” he said. “It is associated with specific locations and permits.”
The areas are designed to be used only a handful of times a year. The Midtown area should make its debut during the Labor Day weekend Rainbow festival And again for the second Saturday in September.
“This is a pilot,” said Baime Michaels. “We are going to keep an eye on what works and what we need to change in the coming months.”
Sacramento’s entertainment areas are made possible by Senate bill 969Signed in 2024. The bill exposed a pilot program before to San Francisco throughout the state, allowing cities to designate areas where alcohol can be consumed in public in specific circumstances.
Not everyone is a supporter. Non -profit Alcohol justice is a watchdown in the alcohol industry that has supported That such entertainment areas could facilitate access to alcohol minors and increase community disturbances. The organization did not respond to a request for comments.
During the meeting of the municipal council on Tuesday, Visit Sacramento The president and chief executive officer, Mike Testa, underlined the data of San Francisco to speak in support of the entertainment areas. He said bars in entertainment areas have seen sales increase from 700 to 1,500% during events.
Simpson said that gains similar to Sacramento could open the door to more collaboration and creativity among owners of small businesses who seek to create new community events.
“I may not want to book a DJ of $ 50,000,” he said, “but when you bring seven other companies to participate and bring out a large crowd, it certainly makes sense.”
Sacramento’s entertainment areas came into force in late July 2025. If they prove success, other areas could be envisaged in other parts of the city.
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