Apopka schedules series of amphitheater and downtown events from April through October

Apopka Development Review Committee staff on March 5 reviewed a slate of proposed events at the Apopka Amphitheater and downtown, providing dates, estimated attendance and direction on parking and security arrangements.

The program of events includes the Apopka High School Orange Blossom Jazz Festival — expanding to two days on Friday, April 11 and Saturday, April 12 (9 a.m.–9 p.m.) with an expected attendance of about 1,000 — and the Taste of Florida Wine & Food Festival scheduled for Wednesday, May 21 (4 p.m.–9 p.m.), also expected to draw about 1,000 and to include alcohol sales handled under coordinated off‑duty policing. Other items reviewed were the Team Gina 5K (Saturday, Oct. 18, 5 a.m.–10 a.m., about 200 people), the Simply Clean car show (Sunday, May 10, noon–4 p.m., about 3,000), a reggae/country concert (Saturday, Oct. 25, 5 p.m.–10 p.m., estimated 8,000), a youth football tournament and concert weekend (May 31–June 1, festival-style, about 600), and a tentative “movie in the park” proposed by Naomi Kidd (dates to be confirmed).

Why it matters: these events concentrate large numbers of people at public facilities and on downtown streets and require coordination across departments for public safety, traffic control and facility management. For the downtown Jaylen Carter Super Bowl celebration scheduled for March 8 on Fifth Street (5–8 p.m.), staff said the street will be closed between Park Avenue and Central, with the Fifth Street parking lot accessed through the first entrance; organizers anticipate about 500 people and coordinated Apopka Fire and Police support. Staff indicated that the street closure request will go to City Council the same afternoon for road closure approval.

Most events will use the amphitheater and paved lots for vehicle parking; some large concerts plan to use Gate 5 (Barbecue Row) and the venue’s parking contract for event management. For events with alcohol, staff said off‑duty officers and private security companies will be used; several applicants plan 10x10 or 10x20 vendor/merchandise tents and stage production. Naomi Kidd’s movie event remains tentative — staff said they will return with confirmed dates and a council agreement is required.

Committee response and next steps: community development staff generally had no additional comments on the event applications during the DRC review; department representatives from police, public services, fire and building repeatedly said they had no outstanding concerns, although police and fire coordination was confirmed for downtown and larger amphitheater events. For at least one downtown event, staff said the road‑closure application will be routed to City Council for formal approval. Several organizers were told to coordinate off‑duty officer coverage and private security arrangements as required by the event type.

Ending: DRC staff closed its review of the event items after confirming parking plans, estimated attendance and security needs, and returned to other planning agenda items. No formal DRC motions or votes were recorded in the transcript for these event reviews.