Imperial City Council approves 2025–26 events lineup, drops July 4 FreedomFest

The Imperial City Council approved the city's 2025—26 signature-events schedule on a 4-0 vote and removed a proposed July 4 FreedomFest from the lineup, council members and staff said during a meeting focused on the city's special-events program.

City events staff presented the recommended schedule and background on changes to longstanding events, and council members debated costs, vendor participation and staff overtime before voting to approve the lineup without the July 4 event.

Lopez, a city events staff member, told the council that Market Days and the other signature events are a long-running quality-of-life program and that vendors have raised concerns when the series has fewer dates. "These events go a long way in giving [employees] a little bit of extra money in their pocket," Lopez said while outlining logistics and vendor feedback.

The staff presentation said ColorFest (previously in April) produced low attendance and vendor turnout in recent years and was recommended for removal from the regular schedule. Council members discussed scaling back attractions and entertainment at higher-cost events such as the carnival to reduce expense, shifting more musical appearances to local acts, and giving nonprofits or community groups the option to run niche offerings such as pies and bread sales.

Council members and staff flagged several operational constraints and costs. The presentation noted that the Parade of Lights is an invitation-only parade and not vendor-focused; staff also listed the need to coordinate with outside agencies and contractors for any large pyrotechnic or fireworks display, including Cal Fire, the Federal Aviation Administration and the public health department. Staff described an idea to site a pyrotechnic show at the fairgrounds under a concession/contract model in which the fairgrounds would manage parking, concessions, trash and staffing while the city would provide limited staff oversight; the council did not adopt that proposal at the meeting.

During discussion council members repeatedly cited the burden on city staff and the overtime cost of frequent events, and some questioned whether the same money might be better spent on parks or regular infrastructure. Staff said some events can be scaled back by reducing contracted attractions or by relying on local bands rather than out-of-area performers. Staff also noted that the city has had trouble coordinating dates with neighboring cities and the regional chamber, which sometimes led to competing weekend events.

The meeting included specific budget figures reported by staff: the presentation listed the Parade of Lights and Christmas in a Small Town together at $65,000 and the carnival at $61,000; the transcript recorded a third figure for Fiesta de los Muertos as "45" but did not specify the units (as stated in the meeting). Staff also said the city typically sells about 400 pies in December and that retail prices for those pies are roughly $26 each (as stated in the meeting).

A councilmember moved to approve the proposed event lineup with the July 4 FreedomFest removed; the motion was seconded. The city clerk recorded a roll call vote of 4-0: Councilperson Zamperano, yes; Councilperson Burnworth, yes; Councilperson Mendoza, yes; Mayor Tucker, yes. The motion passed and the schedule was approved without the July 4 event.

The council gave staff direction to continue seeking cost savings, explore greater local participation for bands and vendors, and pursue options that reduce required overtime and contracted services. Staff said it would follow up with a revised operations plan and any vendor or sponsorship changes for council review.

The approved lineup retains the city's regular Market Days signature events, including the Parade of Lights, Christmas in a Small Town, Carnival, Tri Tip, Blues Brews & Barbecue and Fiesta de los Muertos, while removing ColorFest from the regular season; the proposed July 4 FreedomFest was not included in the final schedule.

The council did not take additional binding action at the meeting on the proposed pyrotechnic idea or on transferring pie-and-bread sales to outside nonprofits; staff said both remain options for further review and implementation planning.