Special Events Committee

Special Events Committee Agenda Date | time 11/12/2025 1:00 PM| Location Zoom MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE: Bob Cook, Dylan Gilbert, Marie McKillop, Timothy Gunter, Rebecca Hopkins, Janet Schumacher, Sam Weatherford, Basil Punsalan, Katie Giani. MEMBERS ABSENT: STAFF: Alexia Sosa Approval of Minutes – October 22, 2025 Update from Special Event Manager – • Special Event Emergency Action Plan doc has been finalized. • Special Event Permit on CSS. • Palmetto Fest at Credit One Stadium - Friday, November 7, 2026. • Riverland Terrace Neighborhood Association does not intend to request a special event permit for their 5K in the spring of ‘26. They are considering a 5K later in the year. They are aware of the Committee’s blackout dates and will re-establish the spring 5K in 2027. • Parks & Recreation held a call with Stoney 100 to discuss the feasibility of their event. Recreation Dept met with Burke High School and approved the May 8-9 date. The applicant will provide updated information, and the application will come back to the SEC for review. • Entering Comments in EnerGov. Questions? • Riverdogs Fireworks adjusted schedule (see schedule under discussion). o Riverdogs are requesting Fireworks on both 6/26 & 6/27. • Do SEC members have any policies, SOPs, or other practices that you would like to see formalized in 2026? • In-person SEC meeting on January 14, 2026 – bring your member goals for 2026 and other policies, SOP ideas. General updates from the Special Events Committee (no action taken) – • Veteran’s Day Parade – neighborhood notice and community outreach needs some improvement • Party for the Parks • Food and Wine Classic – road closure of Ann St. for a week is a lot and has impacted buses and a nearby school. Discussion (applicant present) 1:20 PM SEC2025-01120 SEWE 2026- Marion Square 02/13-15/2026 10:00 AM 5:00 pm Festival Attendees: 42,150 Peninsula Application fee due: $250.00 Gabby and John Powell addressed the committee about SEWE. No major changes to the event. Some extra tents have been added. Mobile food vendors and retail vendors will need to be permitted by the city. FMD will require 2 EMTs and 1 Fire Marshal per day at Brittlebank and Marion Square. There will be two ADA buses, one on the route and the other on standby. SEWE staff at each bus stop can call the bus that is on standby. One ADA portlet will be required for every twenty non-ADA portlets. For neighborhood notification, an email should be sent to the contacts provided 1 month and 2 weeks before the event. Applicants should also stop by hotels surrounding Marion Square and speak to the managers so that they can make their guests and staff aware of the event. Approved with Conditions SEC2025-01119 SEWE 2026- Brittlebank Park 02/13-15/2026 10:00 AM 5:00 PM Festival Attendees: 42,150 Peninsula Application fee due: $250.00 Will need confirmation of numbers for ADA and non-ADA portlets like at Marion Square. They do have a plan to mitigate flooding and rain issues at the park by moving the tents further up into the park. Approved with Conditions Page 1 of 4 THE NEXT SPECIAL EVENTS COMMITTEE MEETING IS December 10, 2025 SEC2025-01117 MLK federal Holiday Parade - parade lineup on Fishburne. Route Fishburne, Ashley, Sumter, King, breakdown on Calhoun (CITY SPONSORED) 01/19/2026 10:00 AM- 12:00 PM Parade, Procession, March Attendees: 1,225 Peninsula 10/29/2025 LaVanda Brown and Daniele Hardee spoke to the committee about MLK Federal Holiday Parade. There will be loading zones, dedicated staging areas, and labeled groups. Each group has a staggered check in time. A virtual meeting will be held with all groups approved for the parade to review check-in and line up procedure and staging areas. They have contacted the MUSC Public Safety office to confirm the ability to use their parking lot on Hagood, it will only be used if needed. A modified plan with a map of check-in and staging areas will need to be submitted to help reduce confusion and congestion. Suggestions have been made to improve communication with the participants. A site plan for Marion Square will need to be submitted and a possible engineering permit for a sidewalk closure. Approved with Conditions Emancipation Proclamation Parade 1/1/2026 (CITY SPONSORED) No major change from last year. If there are portlets 1 must be ADA compliant. CPD will provide officers for the parade. Approved with Conditions Discussion (applicant not present) SEC2025-01127 (ALREADY ISSUED) Credit One Stadium - Palmetto Freedom Fest 11/07/2025 5:30 PM 11:00 PM Festival Attendees: 351 Daniel Island No questions or concerns. Approved with Conditions SEC2025-01123 Credit One Stadium Concert - TBA (4/24/2026) 04/24/2026 5:30 PM 11:00 PM Festival Attendees: 8,001 Daniel Island No questions or concerns. Approved with Conditions SEC2025-01122 Credit One Stadium - Tree Lighting 2026 12/25/2025 6:00 PM 9:00 PM Festival Attendees: 1,000 Daniel Island No questions or concerns. Approved with Conditions SEC2025-01124 Building Healthy Communities 5K Run/Walk and Wellness Expo - Hampton Park 02/14/2026 9:00 AM 11:00 AM Foot Race or Walk Attendees: 440 Peninsula Officers will be required for hard closure of Mary Murray Dr. Approved with Conditions SEC2025-01102 March for Babies, Hampton Park (Set Up: 4/10/26 from 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM, Breakdown: 4/11/26 from 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM) 04/11/2026 8:00 AM 12:30 PM Parade, Procession, March Attendees: 250 Peninsula Officers will be required for hard closure of Mary Murray Dr. Page 2 of 4 THE NEXT SPECIAL EVENTS COMMITTEE MEETING IS December 10, 2025 Approved with Conditions SEC2025-01126 Annual Clearview Christmas Parade 12/21/2025 4:00 PM- 8:00 PM Parade, Procession, March Attendees: 261 James Island Application fee due: $50.00 Hire 1 officer and provide or rent barricades for street blocking. Since there is only 1 portlet it needs to be ADA compliant. Approved with Conditions SEC2025-01115 Lawrence-Hay Wedding Parade on Meeting/Tradd/E Bay (Street Closure) 05/02/2026 6:00PM - 6:15PM Parade, Procession, March Attendees: 180 Peninsula Livability and Tourism representative voted to deny this permit due to impact on carriage and walking tour routes. Majority vote to approve permit. Officers are required to ensure a safe and quick wedding procession that has minimal impact to Meeting/Tradd/E Bay. Approved with Conditions SEC2025-01116 CASH & ROCKET - car display at Marion Square 04/23/2026 12:00 PM - 10:00 PM Festival Attendees: 90 Peninsula Committee is concerned about car shows and commercial events becoming a common occurrence at Marion Square. The applicant said it would benefit a local charity but could not provide the name of any charitable organization. The benefit for Charleston organizations or residents is not clearly defined. Majority vote to deny application, applicants will need to find a private location to hold their event. Denied Application(s) tabled from previous meeting (applicant not present) SEC2025-01112 2026 Stoney 100 - Stoney Field 05/08-09/2026 24-Hour endurance event; food vendors scheduled for part of the day Foot Race or Walk Attendees: 175 Peninsula Application fee due: $50.00 Applicant will meet with Parks and Recreation to discuss event setup and mobile food vendors. Application tabled to next SEC meeting on 12/10/2025. Tabled SEC2025-01072 34th Annual Reindeer Run 5K / Walk - Street Closure Murray BLVD and East Bay St 12/13/2025 6:00 AM - 11:15 AM Foot Race or Walk Attendees: 3,380 Peninsula Route pending Low Battery construction. CPD should have received the documentation and off-duty officer requests they needed for the event. Approved pending Low Battery Construction Plan Updates CofC Tailgate Party shifted the time of the street closure of George to 2:00 PM on 11/14/2025. Banana Ball – no longer using Brittlebank for the festival site. The activities will take place within the footprint of the stadium. Parks Department will review a request to use Brittlebank for Parking on Friday, April 10, as the Hagood Parking Lot will not be available for use until after 5PM. Page 3 of 4 THE NEXT SPECIAL EVENTS COMMITTEE MEETING IS December 10, 2025 Amended Riverdog Fireworks Schedule: • Removing the request for April 10 & 11, 2026. • Requesting fireworks for Saturday, June 27, 2026. This would be the big display to celebrate the Fourth of July. • Possible request for fireworks on July 3 during a separate special event. • Friday Night Firework Display. o 4/3 o 4/17 o 5/1 o 5/15 o 6/5 o 6/12 o 6/26 & 6/27 o 6/28(Drone) o **7/3 (tbd) o 7/17 o 7/24 o 8/7 o 8/21 o 9/4 If you have questions regarding the agenda items, you may contact Katie Giani at gianik@charleston-sc.gov or 843-805-3225. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, people who need alternative formats, ASL (American Sign Language) Interpretation or other accommodations please contact Janet Schumacher at (843) 577-1389; schumacherj@charleston-sc.gov three business days prior to the meeting. Page 4 of 4 THE NEXT SPECIAL EVENTS COMMITTEE MEETING IS December 10, 2025