The Highlands Town Board voted April 17 to allow a pilot “Sip and Stroll” element at the Mountaintop Arts & Crafts show: for two annual show dates (June and August), Rotary organizers may sell beer, wine and small food items in a defined area of Founders Park on Saturday afternoons for a limited period.

Mountain Top Rotary President Kath Connolly Hudson presented the proposal and said the activity would be limited to a 55‑foot cordoned area off Pine Street and operate Saturday only from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. during the two show weekends. She said vendors would be licensed through the North Carolina ABC Commission, Rotary would apply for a single‑event nonprofit ABC permit, and off‑duty police officers would be hired for the event. Rotary also said it has liability insurance that covers alcohol at events and that volunteers would staff park entrances with signs reading “no alcohol beyond this point.”

Why it matters: The board and staff framed the request as a narrowly tailored fundraising tool designed to increase revenue for local charities while keeping the arts‑and‑crafts event free and open to the public. Commissioners raised precedent concerns — noting that approving alcohol in the park for one event could influence future park use requests — and asked the organizers to maintain crowd control and cleanup standards.

Conditions discussed at the meeting: Organizers said the sip‑and‑stroll area would not close the park to the public, that art vendors could remain open through the extended hour, and that the marina‑style approach used at the town’s shrimp boil (ticketed drinks redeemed inside a tent) would be replicated. Chief Holland (police) confirmed that off‑duty officers would be used as required and that staffing levels would be set based on crowd size. Public works staff said Rotary maintains a volunteer cleanup crew and that staff would monitor trash post‑event; the board asked staff and Rotary to consider a deposit or other cleanup arrangements for future events if needed.

The motion to approve passed after board discussion; the vote was by voice with no roll‑call recorded in the meeting minutes.

Ending: Organizers said they will secure ABC permits and coordinate with police and public works on staffing and cleanup. The board approved the event with the expectation the organizers will follow the conditions outlined at the meeting.