Beer permit OK’d for Great Tennessee Airshow; board hears security and service plans

The Town of Smyrna Beer Board on April 7 approved a special-event permit for on-premise alcohol consumption at the Great Tennessee Airshow, scheduled for June at Smyrna Rutherford County Airport.

Evan Lester, identified as the executive director of Smyrna Airport, told the board the airshow has contracted with Airshow Network for alcohol service and that contractors licensed to serve alcohol will perform ID checks. Lester said the event is “doing very well in ticket sales” and that the U.S. Navy Blue Angels are headlining the show. He also said, “We also control, the entry and exit points, to the air show. So we have 4 main entry and exit points that have security guards and police officers, to ensure that no alcohol is taken off-site and off the premises.”

Lester said beer will be offered in cans and on draft and that consumption will be limited to the spectator area, which is fenced off from aircraft and parking. A board member confirmed the town had previously approved similar permits for the airshow in 2014, 2016, 2019, 2021 and 2023 and said they were not aware of issues from those events.

A motion to approve the special-event permit was made, seconded and adopted by voice vote. The board recorded all in favor and no opposition. Staff indicated the event permit will be available for pickup at town hall on Wednesday following the meeting.

The approval is limited to the special-event permit on the record at the meeting; any deviations from the described security, ID-checking or service arrangements were not discussed and would require separate review.