Jackson approves special-event permits; Arts Center proposes community-painted 250th anniversary mural

The Jackson City Council on April 21 approved special-event permits for the Jackson Center for the Arts to hold a Farmers and Makers Market kickoff on May 28, 2026 and an Arts Center Fiesta on Sept. 17, 2026.

Cay Gjertson described a proposed grant-funded mural to commemorate the United States' 250th anniversary. Gjertson said the mural would be formed from about 200 smaller paintings on tile that together would create a U.S. flag with an eagle; the assembled piece would be roughly seven feet high and 12 feet wide, with tiles fabricated by a company in Canada. Gjertson said local residents could participate by painting individual tiles.

Kathy Fransen explained the special-event permit request for May 28, which includes closing the street in front of the Arts Center to host music and mark the Center’s 10th anniversary. She said the Farmers and Makers Market is scheduled to kick off at 3:30 p.m. that day and the band is contracted to begin at 5:00 p.m.; one downtown business consented to the closure only after 5:00 p.m., creating a scheduling conflict Fransen described as putting the Arts Center "in kind of a pickle." The Council voted unanimously to approve the special-event permits (motion by Shawn Foster, second Nathan Peterson). Fransen also noted the Market will move to Dann’s Island for the rest of the summer after the May 28 kickoff.

The Council did not attach additional conditions in the minutes beyond granting the permits; staff or applicants may need to coordinate final street-closure timing directly with affected businesses and event vendors.