Town authority approves Main Street beer garden permit with 9 a.m. service start

The Wellington local liquor licensing authority approved a special event liquor permit on Feb. 25 for the Wellington Colorado Main Street program’s beer garden scheduled for March 15, 2025, at 3736 Cleveland Avenue. The authority changed the permit’s alcohol-service start time from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. to allow town staff to complete event setup.

Town staff told the authority that the applicant had posted the required notice and included a site-use agreement with the property owner and tenant. Staff reported that Wellington Fire reviewed the event’s temporary canopy plan and confirmed there would be no enclosed tent walls or heating elements; public works asked that weights used to secure canopies be nondestructive to the parking lot surface. Larimer County Sheriff’s Office asked who would provide security and monitor boundaries; the applicant said the Wellington American Legion would provide that service.

An applicant representative told the authority the event will place two portable toilets inside the fenced beer garden, one of which will be ADA accessible, and that the organizers will use four 10-by-10 canopies weighted with 25-pound weights and will keep a fire extinguisher on site. The applicant also said single-serve chips would be available for purchase while alcohol is sold.

Town staff recommended approval with the amended 9 a.m. start time so staff could set up fencing and other event infrastructure. A trustee moved to approve the permit with the 9 a.m. service start; the motion passed on a roll-call vote with all members present voting yes.

The authority will issue the permit and notify the state liquor licensing authority upon finalization.