Council debates scaling back Taste Addison after staff outlines 2026 status and sponsorships
Staff reported sponsorship renewals and a potential distributor partner but council split over continuing the large Taste Addison festival; a majority signaled interest in replacing the 3‑day festival with smaller Taste‑branded events or a restaurant‑week model and asked staff to return with alternatives and a budget amendment.
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Abby Morales, director of special events and theater, updated the council on Taste Addison planning on Jan. 6 and explained staff direction to focus 2026 programming on food and beverage revenue, to reduce entertainment subsidy risk and to pursue sponsorships. Morales said the team has a verbal commitment from a beverage distributor willing to sponsor the event if the council approves centralized beverage sales (restaurants would not sell alcohol on site) and that sponsor renewal rates are running about 73% year‑over‑year.
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