The Northampton License Commission approved short‑term wine‑and‑malt licenses for more than a dozen restaurants, breweries and wineries to serve at the Taste of Northampton on Sept. 13–14, 2025, but commissioners requested more detail from event organizers about perimeter containment, wristband sales and on‑site security.

Commissioners said the vendors had submitted required paperwork and voted to waive application fees; approvals were recorded as unanimous. The commission also said it expects the downtown business association (DNA) and the event organizers to supply a plan for how the Armory Street parking lot will be enclosed, how wristbands will be checked at entry, and how police will patrol the site.

The commission approved individual short‑term licenses during the July 16 meeting for vendors including Fitzwillie's (Grand Amarr Hospitality Inc.), Eastside Grill (Leap In Limp Out Inc.), India House (Azad Barat Inc.), Jake's (Washa and Wear Inc.), Local Burger, Progression Brewing (Progression Investments LLC), Drawing Board Brewing, Highbrow Wood Fired Kitchen and Bar, Gumbo Oyster Bar (Let Me Be Lucy LLC), Mineral Hills Winery (Goddard's Red Hen Farm LLC), The Dirty Truth (Moore Hospitality Inc.), Spoleto (1 Bridge Street Inc.) and others. Each motion recorded in the transcript included a fee waiver and a roll call of affirmative votes from Commissioners Natasha Yakovlev, Jennifer Ewer and Amy Cahillane.

Commissioners pressed organizers and vendors for operational details. Andrea (representing the Downtown Northampton Association) told the commission the plan is to enclose the Armory lot with barricades and place a DNA booth near the entrance to sell wristbands; DNA would run ID checks at that booth and sell $5 wristbands to those who intend to drink. Andrea also said the DNA plans to engage the Northampton Police Department and expected two dedicated officers for the event. Andrea: “There is gonna be a DNA booth...outside of the enclosed area. So folks would need to go to the DNA booth...and then go through security to get into the actual Taste.”

Vendor representatives described their proposed service plans. Harrison Edwards of Fitzwillie’s said his booth would serve canned beer (tallboys) and possibly a sangria; he said staff serving alcohol would have current alcohol‑service (TIPS/ServSafe) certifications. Progression Brewing said it would serve beer from a refrigerated tap truck or canned pours if electrical hookups are unavailable. Several vendors said they intended to sell a limited selection of canned beers and a small number of wines.

Organizers and vendors said the DNA intended to use wristbands both to age‑verify and as a modest fundraiser: the $5 wristband would be valid for both days and would be required to purchase alcohol at vendor booths. City staff and several vendors clarified that vendors themselves would not issue wristbands; customers would present an already‑issued wristband at vendor booths. Andrew Browery (organizer/participant) said the DNA had discussed construction fencing around the perimeter and planned police patrols: “...there would be the construction fencing around the perimeter of the parking lot. The DNA is going to be IDing and selling the wristbands, and we're gonna have police presence patrolling the whole area.”

Commissioners debated whether to approve licenses immediately or make approvals contingent on organizer confirmations. The commission approved the individual short‑term licenses during the meeting and agreed to follow up with organizers for a written description of fencing materials, final entrance location, and security staffing. The commission noted prior problems when unapproved vendors served alcohol in earlier iterations of the event and emphasized containing the event footprint so alcohol could not be carried outside the defined boundaries.

The commission also discussed the DNA’s request for a fee waiver for the event; commissioners agreed to waive fees for the short‑term licenses this year given the event’s connection to the nonprofit DNA and community nature of the festival.

The commission said it will expect written plans from event organizers, to be delivered to licensing staff, documenting the perimeter fencing, wristband points of sale and the police detail assigned to the event. If those clarifications are not consistent with the commitments discussed, the commission said it would reserve the right to require additional containment or conditions before the event.