Special Event Planned At Conclusion Of Arlington Alfresco In Fall

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL — For the participating restaurants and businesses that have taken part in Arlington Alfresco since its inception last year, the event has been a huge success with thousands of people descending on downtown Arlington Heights. This year's edition is slated to end in September, with plans to add an event at the conclusion.

During a nearly three-hour discussi0n Monday night as part of the Arlington Heights Village Board meeting, officials announced a "grand finale" plan for the first week of October. Music, food and other forms of entertainment are all on the table for a potential two-day event, expected to be tailored after the popular Taste of Arlington and Mane Event, last run in 2019.

"Downtown special events are obviously a big part of life in Arlington Heights. Over the years, the Chamber of Commerce, the Special Events Commission, Village staff, downtown businesses, residents and non-profit organizations have all contributed to create these unique experiences in our community," Village Manager Randy Recklaus said during a presentation to the Village Board.

Arlington Alfresco, a European-style outdoor dining experience, began in March. The program allows restaurants to extend outdoor seating into the right-of-way in the downtown or in parking lots of other restaurants. It takes place along Vail Avenue and Campbell Street.

Arlington Alfresco was created in 2020 as a way to assist struggling businesses during the coronavirus pandemic. The inaugural edition ran from June to November last year. Recklaus said the success of Arlington Alfresco has "changed the landscape for downtown events."

The costs to put on Arlington Alfresco are currently borne by the Arts and Entertainment Fund through a Food and Beverage Tax. Village staff estimate that an additional 0.75 to 1 percent Food and Beverage tax on Alfresco zone restaurants year round could cover the costs of the program, according to Recklaus.

"Alfresco has been a clear benefit to downtown businesses in and around the Alfresco zone," Recklaus said.

In the past, two popular August events in Arlington Heights have been the Mane Event and Taste of Arlington Heights. The Chamber of Commerce-sponsored events are typically synched up with the running of the Arlington Million horse race at Arlington International Racecourse. With both canceled in 2020 due to the pandemic, consideration has been made to have them return this summer, but Recklaus said that it would be logistically impossible to hold either at the same time as Arlington Alfresco.

"The pedestrian corridor that exists between the tents during Mane and Taste, and the fencing for Alfresco, is very similar in size and that's not an accident," Recklaus said. "We are providing enough space for us to be able to get a fire truck or ambulance down that corridor if we had to."

Recklaus said running events simultaneously with both tents and fencing up would make getting emergency crews into the area impossible, noting that ambulances have needed to get downtown during past Mane and Taste events. He also noted breaking down Alfresco temporarily for Mane and Taste would prove to be a very difficult task and not cost-effective.

Noting planning for a special event at the conclusion of Alfresco will be challenging due to a lack of time, Recklaus also said that what is decided for this year does not have to set a precedent for future years.

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