The Washington Harbor District Alliance went before city council Monday night to seek permission to allow patrons purchase alcoholic beverages at a neighboring beer garden during the Get Down Downtown concert in August.

In a 3-1 vote, with Mayor pro tem Bobby Roberson not in attendance, Washington City Council voted to allow patrons to carry and drink alcohol in Festival Park.

All organizers of events who wish to serve alcohol have to go before City Council and got permission to allow people to drink alcohol on city property.

“Every vote we have ever did, it’s a problem for one or two of the councilmen,” said Mac Hodges, Washington mayor. “I don’t see alcohol being sold as a problem.”

The issue arose because local restaurant On the Waterfront will have a beer garden in its parking lot for Get Down Downtown.

“The licensing the restaurant has is on and off premise for alcohol. They’ll be able to sell beer and wine in a closed container,” said Beth Byrd, Harbor District Alliance office manager.

What that means is the purchaser has to open the beverage; the provider cannot open the drink.

“You can open the drink in the beer garden,” Byrd said. “If you take it back to your seat, keep it closed until you get to Festival Park.”

Because the Washington Harbor District Alliance is a nonprofit, Byrd has also had to apply for a one-time use permit through the state as well.

This is the sixth year the Washington Harbor District Alliance has put these concerts on, according to Byrd.

“It brings hundreds of people into Washington and most are from outside of the area,” Byrd said.

Since alcohol will be served at the event, the Alliance has to have extra Washington Police at the concert.

“I have to give credit to the City of Washington Police Department because they do an excellent job at these events,” Byrd said.