Leesburg events manager explains town and county rules for public events, courthouse licensing

Linda Fowton, the Town of Leesburg events and outreach manager, briefed the Performing Arts Commission on how the town permits public events and on an expected licensing agreement with Loudoun County covering use of courthouse grounds.

Fowton said event permitting differs depending on whether the proposed location is town-owned public property (for example, the town green, Iolee Park or streets downtown) or private property such as a privately owned parking lot. Use of county-owned courthouse grounds requires separate permission from the Loudoun County Courthouse Committee; the town currently seeks exceptions from that committee when the town uses the courthouse for town events.

"The courthouse grounds has certain rules. It's really primarily for public use, freedom-of-speech type of activities, not necessarily an event venue," Fowton said, explaining why the town asks the county for exceptions when staging events that include a stage, vendors or alcohol.

She said the town has historically…