Miami Lakes committee advances plans for 25th-anniversary celebration, seeks vendors and sponsors

Kimberly Reyes, a small-business owner of the Trellis Cottage and a Miami Lakes resident, urged the anniversary planning committee to partner with local artists and to include local vendors at the towns 25th-anniversary celebration.

"I wanted to propose that you partner with local artists, for the 20 fifth anniversary," Reyes said, adding that she could participate as a vendor and that her shop donates a portion of proceeds to autism organizations.

Committee members then moved through an assignment list and reviewed outstanding logistics including entertainment, a master of ceremonies, vendor recruitment, food-truck arrangements, a beer garden, souvenirs and a time capsule. Members said they have not set a dedicated committee budget for the beer garden or food-truck fees and that many vendor and performer commitments depend on prompt decisions so preferred acts are not booked elsewhere.

Brian Rodriguez was assigned to follow up on food-truck contacts and to update the committee on master-of-ceremonies arrangements. Members discussed three bands that had been circulated; one member said the preferred act seemed to fit the event better because it was "less heavy." Vivian Levy was tasked with coordinating performers from local schools, and a sensory room similar to the Fourth of July setup was confirmed for attendees with special needs.

Logistics under discussion included determining the number of portable toilets, whether to pull lighting towers, and handling fireworks. Committee members identified Veterans Park as the proposed event site and clarified that a separate task force (referred to in the meeting as YTF) is responsible for selecting time-capsule contents; members emphasized items should have historical value rather than sponsor-branded materials.

Organizers said they could not prepare a sponsorship package until core event details are finalized. A committee member explained that the sponsorship offer must reflect what sponsors will receive and that attendance estimates guide pricing; the committee referenced Spring Fling and Halloween events that drew about 4,000 to 5,000 attendees as planning benchmarks.

Volunteers will be recruited through the towns volunteer sign-up web page, and staff agreed to add a volunteer link. The committee also discussed social-media and photo stations, souvenirs (magnets and pins), and exploring local businesses for mascot appearances.

The committee set its next meeting for Wednesday, Aug. 20, at 6:30 p.m. and asked staff to circulate meeting materials and a sponsorship briefing once event elements are confirmed.