Pawtucket board approves multiple temporary entertainment and liquor permits with noise and cleanup conditions

The Pawtucket Board of License Commissioners approved a series of temporary entertainment permits and one-day liquor-license expansions for summer events, imposing stipulations on music end times and post-event cleanup.

Councilors and licensing board members said the conditions were intended to address neighborhood complaints about loud music and late activity. Councilor Codere said he had “explained to [the organizer] about the ending hours of events” and that the parties agreed to “ending the music by 08:30, and people needs to be out of the park by 9, 9PM.”

The approvals included: EVT-25-48, an entertainment license for a festival at Festival Pier (Tim Healey Way) as part of the Pawtucket Arts Festival on Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025 (rain date Sept. 1) with a stipulation that music stop by 8:30 p.m. and attendees vacate the park by 9 p.m.; EVTDash25Dash53, a three-day expansion of a Class D license for the Holy Ghost Feast (Ramandad de Divino Espirito Santo / Saint Anthony’s Church) for July 25–27, 2025; EVT25-54 and EVT25-57, one-day expansions for Saint Anne’s Fest at 682 Roosevelt Ave. on July 27 and Aug. 3, 2025 (stipulations: no glass outdoors; use plastic; outdoor areas to be cleaned up by 10 a.m. the following day); and EVT25-56, a one-day expansion for a classic car show and food/alcohol service at 1 Ordway St. on Aug. 2, 2025.

Motions to take up and approve the petitions were recorded with named movers and seconders in the transcript. For example, the festival permit (EVT-25-48) was moved by Councilor Ruzo and seconded by Councilor Codea; the board adopted the time-limit stipulation during discussion and approved the petition by voice vote. Similar motions and approvals were made for the other event petitions; the Saint Anne’s Fest approvals carried with the existing stipulations repeated from previous permits (no glass outside, cleanup by 10 a.m.).

Several councilors emphasized balancing community enjoyment of summer events with neighbor concerns. One councilor said: “we all want people to have fun and have these festivals and and be outside during the summertime. But also we need to be conscious about other, neighbors that live around the area and don't feel that comfortable with the music, late at night.”

The board recorded the approvals on the meeting docket and moved on to other agenda items. A written communication from Desiree Rousen about the Harmony dog-training kennel was filed and noted at the start of the session; that matter was addressed separately by the council later in the meeting.