SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — Workers in San Francisco were spraying water to clean sidewalks, applying fresh paint to street sign posts and setting up barricades Friday morning in preparation for the state’s first Entertainment Zone event.
The Downtown SF Partnership, along with Schroeder’s Restaurant and other sponsors, is organizing “Oktoberfest on Front,” which will be held on Front Street between Sacramento and California Streets from 2 to 10 p.m. Friday.
Organizers hope the event will bring big crowds and big money to the city.
“You’re actually buying your alcoholic beverages from local brick-and-mortar businesses, like Harrington’s, Royal Exchange and others, who will benefit from this event because they won’t have to bring in outside vendors or food trucks,” said Melissa Buckminster, spokesperson for the Downtown SF Partnership.
Read more: San Francisco considering four new areas to be designated as ‘entertainment zones’ for special events
And now you can walk down Front Street between Sacramento and California with a drink in hand.
San Francisco has the power to create these zones under SB 76, a bill authored by Sen. Scott Wiener that aims to allow outdoor drinking and promote downtown revitalization.
German beer hall Schroeder’s is doubling the number of barrels in its inventory from 35 to 70.
“The concept of Bourbon Street is about staying right on the street, bringing your drinks outside and being able to socialize and talk,” said Che Walton, assistant general manager of Schroeder’s Restaurants.
Read more: San Francisco’s Oktoberfest on Front will be “California’s first-ever entertainment zone event”
Walton said about 4,000 people applied to participate in the event, compared with about 800 last year.
“This is a great opportunity not only for us, but for the city, because I strongly believe that until most people come back, San Francisco needs to rely on the Bay Area,” Walton said. “We need to reach out and show everybody what we have to offer and make San Francisco a destination for people in the area to not only come to work, but to come back and play, have a good time and enjoy the amenities that the city has to offer.”
Previously, the city would cordon off events and people could only drink in certain areas. Now, businesses don’t have to pay for fencing.
Officials are looking forward to an expansion of events in the entertainment zone.
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“This will be the first location, but there will be more opening in the future,” Buckminster said. “I know there are plans to open other locations in the city and downtown.”
“Oktoberfest on Front” will run from 2 to 10 p.m.
Entry is free, but you can respond online.
In a separate event, Grammy Award-winning band Portugal the Man will take to the stage at 7pm on Friday night at San Francisco’s Civic Center Plaza along with American soul and funk group Snacktime.
This is a Another Planet Entertainment event. Please RSVP online.
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