Parker Council approves two special-event liquor permits for Fanfest and County Fair

The Parker Town Council approved two special-event liquor-license applications at its Feb. 3 meeting, clearing the way for alcohol service at Fanfest-related activities and the La Paz County Fair, according to local reporting. The council’s action affects Parker Eagles (FPO Eagles Aerie 4419) and the Black Hat Bar’s presence at the county fairgrounds.

The Parker Eagles application names the event date as Feb. 19, 2026 and “will coincide with Fanfest 2026 Tech and Contingency, an event prior to the Parker Dam 500 off-road race this weekend,” the local report states. The applicant is listed as Parker Eagles, FPO Eagles Aerie 4419; the report does not provide a street address for the Eagles’ service area or any permit conditions tied to that location.

“The second application was for the Black Hat Bar at the La Paz County Fairgrounds for the La Paz County Fair, which is scheduled for March 12-14,” the same local report notes. The board’s approval covers alcohol service at the La Paz County Fair scheduled those dates, though the report does not specify the year in the March dates nor the statutory type of special-event permit issued for the Black Hat Bar.

Under Colorado law, special-event permits are governed by the state liquor code, and local guidance stresses limitations on where and how temporary alcohol sales are allowed. “A Special Event Permit authorizes the sale of alcohol beverages by the drink to the public and may be one permit allows the sale of malt, vinous, and spirituous liquor, the other allows only the sale of fermented malt beverages, both by the drink in open containers,” the Parkerco Special Events Permits Resource Guide states, and it notes “The statutory reference is found in C.R.S § 44-5-101.” The same guide warns that “The event must be on property not generally accessible to the public. There must not be a liquor license on this property,” and adds that parks or town facilities can qualify “through an appropriate legal document (such as a License Agreement)” and that “Please consider that civil liability may exist even when alcohol is served in a legal manner.” The guide’s copy of the service rules is incomplete in the excerpt available: “Alcohol must be served free of charge. If” (sentence truncated).

Separately, the town has moved to streamline licensing procedure through Ordinance No. 5.28.037, which “authorizing the town clerk to administratively establish neighborhood boundaries for new and change-of-location special liquor-license applications, following a unanimous recommendation from the Special Licensing Authority,” according to a municipal notice. Town staffer Miss Vanderpool explained the change “aligns municipal code with Resolution 25-024 (approved earlier by the Special Licensing Authority) and allows staff to provide applicants a boundary map and a public hearing date without the applicant first appearing before the authority to set the boundary.” She added, “If approved, this ordinance will alleviate one step in the liquor license application process,” calling it “a customer-service and time-saving measure.”

The published local article that reported the Feb. 3 approvals showed zero ratings and zero comments on its page at the time of review, a reminder that these permitting decisions are proceeding with limited public online engagement. Key details remain unspecified in public reporting: neither approved permit is identified by statutory type (malt/vinous/spirituous versus fermented malt beverages only), no permit conditions or security/insurance requirements are listed, the Eagles’ service venue address is not given, and the March 12–14 listing does not state a year.

Residents seeking the council’s vote record, permit applications, or any conditions attached to the approvals can request the Feb. 3 meeting minutes and copies of the two special-event permits from the Parker Town Clerk’s office. For event-specific plans contact Parker Eagles (FPO Eagles Aerie 4419), Black Hat Bar, or La Paz County Fairgrounds to confirm hours, security measures, and any attendee limits before the scheduled events.