Selectmen approve Voice of Art festival on Sharon Green for Sept. 4–6 with conditions

The Sharon Board of Selectmen on Jan. 27 approved an application from Voice of Art, Inc. to use the Sharon Green for an art festival Sept. 4–6, 2026, with stipulations meant to limit impacts on the site.

Board members discussed whether the early-September event would be too close to the town’s Crafts Fair, scheduled the first Saturday in August, and noted concerns raised by the Green Committee about signage. The committee has also discussed charging fees for certain Green uses, a proposal that First Selectman (recorded as Flanagan) said he supported.

Mr. Brett moved to approve Voice of Art’s request with three conditions: submit a certificate of insurance before the event, remove garbage at the end of each day, and ensure all booths are removed by 7 p.m. on Sept. 6. Ms. Kearcher seconded the motion and the board voted unanimously in favor.

The approval includes logistical conditions but does not record a final decision on whether the board will institute a fee schedule for Green use; minutes note the Green Committee has discussed fees but no formal fee policy was adopted at the meeting. The board directed staff to require the insurance certificate and enforce the listed conditions for event organizers.

The matter was discussed as part of the regular meeting and was moved, seconded and approved without further public comment in the minutes. The first recorded mention of this application appears in the meeting minutes and is recorded in the timeline.