Downtown board approves $25,000 grant for Marchtoberfest event at Coachman Park

The City of Clearwater Downtown Development Board voted Jan. 13 to award a special-event grant of $25,000 to Max Marketing Inc., funding part of a two-day “Marchtoberfest” celebration proposed for Coachman Park on March 28–29, 2025.

Board members and staff spent more than an hour questioning the event organizer about the budget, assumed attendance and sponsor plans before approving the smaller award. Vicky Shire, CRA program manager, told the board the event organizer requested up to $84,450 and staff had recommended funding “up to $50,000” to cover entertainment, marketing and city fees; the estimated city fees of $11,200 would remain the applicant’s responsibility. Kirk (Kurt) Foreman, president of Max Marketing (DBA Brewfest Partners), said the total event cost was about $117,145 and that his company was new to Clearwater but had produced similar ticketed festivals elsewhere. Foreman acknowledged the March event would be free to the public and that the attendance estimate was based on a formula tied to vendor spending rather than ticket sales.

Trustee Menino and other board members expressed concern that the promoter’s attendance estimates — 2,500–5,100 per day — were high for a free event with less than 75 days to market. Menino also questioned why the applicant had requested that a large share of the budget be carried by the board and suggested a smaller city contribution for a first‑year event. Foreman said raising sponsorships in the short timeline was difficult and that the event would be risky without city support. “It’s a risky venture to do an outdoor event in general,” Foreman said.

Board members sought changes in the funding level during debate. When Trustee Menino moved to approve a special-event grant for $25,000 — half of staff’s $50,000 recommendation was proposed earlier in discussion — another trustee seconded the motion. The board voted in favor; the dais recorded the motion and the chair called for the ayes.

The board also heard that the event would be free and open to the public, planned to run 3 p.m.–10 p.m. each day, include live entertainment, children’s activities and food vendors, and that police and other public‑safety costs were estimated separately. The promoter said some line items in his original budget — notably police — had been estimated higher than later city figures indicated. Several board members recommended the organizer return in 2026 after a longer planning period if the event proved successful.

Officials said the city’s special-event sponsorship policy is being updated to better integrate with the city permitting process and that the Downtown Development Board will be asked to consider those changes in the future.