{"id":1973695,"date":"2025-08-22T04:01:28","date_gmt":"2025-08-22T04:01:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=1973695"},"modified":"2025-08-22T04:01:28","modified_gmt":"2025-08-22T04:01:28","slug":"oviedo-arts-and-entertainment-district-or-open-container-drinking-district","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/oviedo-arts-and-entertainment-district-or-open-container-drinking-district\/","title":{"rendered":"Oviedo arts and entertainment district, or \u2018open container drinking\u2019 district?"},"content":{"rendered":"

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OVIEDO, Fla.<\/strong> \u2013 The City of Oviedo is one step closer to allowing people to walk around with a cup – or two – of alcohol at city events at the city\u2019s center.<\/p>\n

There are only a few places in Florida that allow open containers – Mt. Dora was one of the first in 2018.<\/p>\n

On June 6, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed off on Oviedo\u2019s proposed ordinance, allowing open containers at Oviedo on the Park. But now the city is grappling with making it happen \u2014 figuring out exactly when, where, how, even what to call it.<\/p>\n

The governor\u2019s signature gives businesses in Oviedo\u2019s special district special licenses to sell alcohol that people can take outside.<\/p>\n

Map of the Oviedo arts and entertainment district.<\/span> (City of Oviedo)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Oviedo on the Park is the lakeside family-friendly city square where it hosts Oktoberfest, movie nights, and other events.<\/p>\n

City councilmembers nicknamed it Oviedo\u2019s \u201cArts and Entertainment District.\u201d<\/p>\n

But even the mayor admitted it\u2019s not exactly art that makes the district special.<\/p>\n

During the June 16 city council meeting<\/a>, Mayor Megan Sladek asked city staff about changing the name of the district. <\/p>\n

Details of Oviedo’s open container rules.<\/span> (City of Oviedo)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cShould we consider changing the name?\u201d Sladek proposed. \u201cBecause it\u2019s an incredible misnomer to call it an arts and entertainment district. People keep saying, \u2018What are we going to do with culture, are we adding a museum and different things?\u2019 And really, it\u2019s an open container drinking district. And I get how a person might not want a cup that says drinking district… but that would perhaps, I don\u2019t know, maybe people would want it more, and maybe that would be a little more descriptive of what it is.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sladek asked City Manager Patrick Kelly if Oviedo is required to use the Arts and Entertainment District name after lawmakers approved open containers in the special district.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe local bill that was passed was signed by the governor on June 6, so that is now law, and that named the district, for all intents and purposes, for licensing purposes, let\u2019s say, it named that district the Oviedo Arts and Entertainment District,\u201d Kelly said. \u201cIt\u2019s where all our festivals are.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sladek followed up.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut if there is flexibility in changing the name, is that something you guys might be interested in having a discussion about?\u201d<\/p>\n

The response from councilmembers: \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n

Details of Oviedo’s open container rules.<\/span> (City of Oviedo)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The purpose of the drinking district, according to the city, is to \u201cprovide new opportunities for equitable community participation… by encouraging private establishments to participate in local events, and festivals…\u201d<\/p>\n

City councilmembers must now settle on rules for the special district.<\/p>\n

So far, they\u2019ve proposed:<\/p>\n