Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Downtown Events topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Saint Charles committee approves pilot 'Unwind Wednesday' event on downtown plaza
Summary
The Government Operations Committee approved a pilot Unwind Wednesday event for June 11, 2025, allowing patrons to carry alcoholic beverages from participating plaza businesses with wristbands and requiring private security, rented fencing and insurance coverage for the first date.
The Government Operations Committee of Saint Charles City approved a pilot Unwind Wednesday event scheduled for June 11, 2025, that will allow patrons to purchase alcoholic drinks inside participating plaza businesses, receive a wristband and then carry the drink outside onto the downtown plaza for a single night of music and programming.
Jenna, Alliance staff member, told the committee the one-night pilot would run from 5:30 to 8 p.m., timed to overlap with SEC Live (6 to 7:30 p.m.). “We'd like to start with one day, and that would be Wednesday, June 11, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. when SEC Live runs from 6 to 7:30,” Jenna said, describing the Alliance’s plan to begin with a single date and return to the committee for additional approvals in July and August if the pilot runs smoothly.
The nut graf: Committee members said the program aims to showcase downtown businesses and encourage pedestrian activity without major changes to the plaza. Supporters described the plan as a way to highlight restaurants and retailers while limiting alcohol to wristbanded patrons in a fenced area.
Committee discussion focused on safety and logistics. Jenna said organizers had coordinated with city staff and the St. Charles Police Department and would hire three professional security guards, deploy barriers (described as rented silver fencing) and have Alliance staff on site. She said Alter had offered to cover the event insurance for the June 11 date and that a sponsor would cover security, fencing and wristbands while the Alliance would cover the band and marketing.
A committee member asked whether a uniformed officer would be present; Jenna said police had indicated they would be notified and “they'd probably walk a beat at some point around and check it out” for the first event. Committee members also asked about construction near a section of the plaza by Gia Mia; Jenna said the construction was weather dependent but was expected to be completed before June 11, with no firm date provided.
The committee approved the pilot by voice vote after a motion to approve. The chair called for the ayes and declared the motion carried.
What happens next: Organizers said they will return to the committee if they seek additional Unwind Wednesday dates in July and August. The pilot’s safety arrangements for subsequent dates would be confirmed with the police and staff before those events were scheduled.
