San Gabriel council raises Dumpling & Beer Festival vendor fees, tweaks beer-ticket prices and approves youth partner

San Gabriel — The City Council voted July 1 to amend the fee schedule for the city's annual Dumpling and Beer Festival, approving higher vendor participation fees and raising beer-garden ticket prices, and later approved a $5,000 agreement with the Asian Youth Center to support the festival's operations and youth programming.

Economic development manager Karen Coe told the council the changes are intended to cover growing operational costs for the festival, which draws an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 attendees annually and has expanded in recent years. "Altogether, these adjustments will help offset event cost and support the continued success of the festival for years to come," Coe said during the public hearing.

Why it matters: The fee changes and the AYC partnership affect how the city funds and operates one of its largest annual events, and council members pressed staff for details about capacity, ticketing and the cost of outsourcing event coordination.

What the council approved

- Vendor fees: Staff recommended and council approved increases to vendor participation fees for the Dumpling and Beer Festival. Food truck fees will rise from $100 to $200; food booth fees will rise from $200 to $300. Coe said the increases reflect additional staff time, equipment and permitting support the city provides to vendors.

- Beer garden ticket pricing (amended by council): Staff initially proposed early-bird tickets at $40, general admission at $45 and a $50 day-of price (and a new $20 designated-driver ticket). After discussion, the council amended the proposal and voted to adopt the following beer-garden pricing for 2025: early-bird $40, general admission $50 and day-of-event $60. The council also approved a…