Council approves Bridal Music and Arts Festival request for additional shoulder‑season performances

The Jacksonville City Council on Feb. 3 approved a request from the Bridal Music and Arts Festival to reserve up to four additional shoulder‑season performance dates concluding by Oct. 31, 2026.

Staff told the council the request, submitted as an extension of previously approved shoulder‑season dates, would carry no fiscal impact to the city and recommended approval. Abby McKee of the Bridal Music and Arts Festival said the extra dates are a common booking flexibility: “These are not committed yet to anyone…we do ask for those every year to give ourselves booking flexibility,” McKee said.

Councilors asked for and received clarifications about the revised neighbor letter and event contact information. McKee said the letter now lists both a pre‑event contact and a during‑event contact and confirmed the during‑event contact would be Chris.

After a brief public comment period with no speakers opposed, Councilor Reid moved and Councilor Thompson seconded the motion to approve the request. The council approved the motion by roll‑call vote with all members voting yes.

The council’s approval allows the Bridal Music and Arts Festival to schedule up to four shoulder‑season shows that would conclude by Oct. 31, 2026; McKee said there is no guarantee all dates would be used and that the request preserves booking flexibility.