Committee votes to consider March 1 “Old School” festival, allocates up to $3,000 pending approvals

The Miami Lakes Cultural Affairs Committee on a voice vote agreed to consider a proposal to hold an Old School Freestyle Festival in the town park on March 1, 2025, and later approved a tentative allocation of up to $3,000 to support the event.

The decision followed a presentation from Oscar Flores of Family Culture Events, who described a sponsor-driven music series and said the group could bring national and regional acts “to the park at no cost. So completely free to the community.” Flores asked the committee for logistical assistance only: stage access, trash containers and police presence.

Committee members discussed logistics and costs. Committee member Charles seconded the motion to add the festival proposal to new business; the chair called the voice vote and the motion passed. Later in the meeting a motion to allocate up to $3,000 from committee funds to support the event — with the precise funding source to be identified later — was moved, seconded and approved by voice vote.

Committee and staff cautioned that the $3,000 commitment is provisional. A staff member told the committee that transfers over $700 typically require town-manager or council approval and that final cost estimates for the stage, police and trash were not yet available. Committee discussion included preliminary cost figures mentioned during debate: trash collection estimated at $600–$800; a basic event stage estimated at roughly $3,000 if rented; and police coverage presented as likely to require multiple officers, which could raise the cost into several thousand dollars depending on hours and staffing levels.

Committee members emphasized conditional next steps: staff will present a formal request to the town manager and, if required, to the town council for any transfers or additional funding; event organizers will pursue sponsors and firm vendor quotes; and the committee will seek confirmation of park use and staging availability. The chair said the committee expects a final recommendation to council at its next agenda cycle so that the town manager can respond before the council meeting on the 21st.

The committee did not approve a final budget, and members repeatedly noted the event remains contingent on securing a stage, exact police staffing, and final vendor quotes. The festival planners said artists are tentatively booked but cannot be held without a confirmed park reservation and roofed stage.

If the town-manager or council approvals required for transfers are granted, organizers said they would proceed with promotions, sponsor outreach and contracts for food trucks and production. Otherwise, the organizers said a backup, ticketed plan exists should the park or donated stage prove unavailable.