Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Events topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council approves $10,000 sponsorship and street closure for Back of the Dragon/OTR event
Summary
Council approved a street‑closure request and a $10,000 municipal sponsorship to OTR for the Back of the Dragon festival; organizers cited attendance growth (about 2,100 in 2023 and 3,600 in 2024) and a VTC marketing grant to draw visitors.
The Town of Tazewell council approved a request to permit the Back of the Dragon (OTR) event and voted to sponsor the organizer with $10,000 at its Feb. 11 meeting.
Beth Package, representing OTR/Back of the Dragon, described the event as a motors‑oriented rally with music, stunt shows and food vendors and said the event is intended to draw out‑of‑region visitors. She told council attendance estimates from Pacer AI indicated approximately 2,100 visitors on the main event day in 2023 and 3,600 in 2024. Package also said organizers received a Virginia Tourism Corporation (VTC) advertising grant to promote the event to audiences more than two hours away.
Council approved the event permit (including street closure and alcohol service) and then voted to provide a $10,000 sponsorship to OTR. The manager clarified that the sponsorship funds are paid to OTR (the event organizer) not directly to the Back of the Dragon event promoters; the council’s prior year sponsorship was similarly recorded.
Council members asked staff to ensure businesses are notified via the town’s Nixle alert, website and newsletter and to check for potential conflicts with youth sports schedules. Organizers said they work closely with public safety, police and fire staff and aim to minimize disruptions to local merchants.
What’s next: Staff will process the event permit and coordinate notifications to downtown businesses and residents ahead of the June event dates.
Sources: Event organizer presentation and council motions at Feb. 11 meeting.
