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Council approves two outdoor-entertainment licenses: library fall festival and National Guard East Fest
Summary
The council approved an outdoor entertainment license for the Friends of the Exeter Public Library's fall festival and approved an application for the Rhode Island National Guard's East Fest parachute competition on Earl Adams's farm, with town staff and presenters describing public-safety and traffic controls.
The Exeter Town Council approved two outdoor-entertainment licenses during the public-hearing portion of its meeting.
Friends of the Exeter Public Library: Helen Douglas, president of the Friends of the Exeter Public Library, sought an outdoor-entertainment license for the library's annual fundraiser "Exeter Fall Festival" scheduled for Sept. 20 (application listed Sept. 30 in the packet; the applicant asked the council to confirm the date). Douglas described food trucks, artisans, music and family activities and asked the council to waive the application fee because her group is a nonprofit and all proceeds benefit the library. "We're really fortunate to, despite the weather every year lately, we still make a lot of money for the public library of Exeter," Douglas said. A councilor moved to approve the application and waive the fee; the motion carried by voice vote. Staff will notify the Friends of the final advertising costs for required public notices.
Rhode Island National Guard East Fest (Earl Adams farm): EarI Adams described the military parachute competition he has hosted on his property for several years and requested an entertainment license for the event scheduled for Aug. 2, 2025 (rain date Aug. 3), 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Adams said his farm routinely supports the event infrastructure: a 150-200 acre competition field, a nine-acre parking hayfield, multiple access points, routing for incoming and outgoing traffic, and coordination with state police and military MPs. He estimated roughly 1,000 attendees over the day and said the National Guard provides traffic control, signage, port-a-potties, medical coverage and shuttles. "It's a very, very good event," Adams said. The council approved the application by voice vote; staff will provide the applicant with advertising rates and final permit paperwork.
Safety and notice: Adams and councilors described coordination with state troopers and local emergency services, including on-site medical evacuation capability by military aircraft for serious injuries. Adams said the event has run for decades in the region and that the National Guard brings its own traffic, medical and safety resources.
