TO: he Honorable Board of County Commissioners
THROUGH: John A. Titkanich, Jr., County Administrator
THROUGH: Michael C. Zito, Deputy County Administrator
Beth Powell, Parks, Recreation, & Conservation Director
Wendy Swindell, Assistant Director Parks, Recreation & Conservation
Steven Barako, Parks Superintendent
FROM: Elaine Carow, Parks, Recreation and Conservation Venue & Special Events Manager
DATE: November 20, 2025
SUBJECT: Latitude-88, Inc. Recurring License Agreements; Oktoberfest, Bluesfest, January Home Show, April Home Show, Arts & Craft Expo 2026-2029
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BACKGROUND
Latitude-88, Inc., based in Vero Beach, is an established event production company that organizes community, cultural, and entertainment events primarily throughout the Treasure Coast. The company produces numerous events annually, including five recurring events held at the Fairgrounds. Latitude-88, Inc. has a long history of hosting events at the Indian River County Fairgrounds. These events-Oktoberfest (4th year), Bluesfest (5th year), the January and April Home Shows (13th year), and the Arts & Craft Expo (6th year)-welcome thousands of attendees, provide recreational and cultural opportunities for residents and visitors, and contribute to local economic activity through attendee and vendor spending.
ANALYSIS
For many years, Latitude-88, Inc. has hosted recurring community events at the Fairgrounds, including Oktoberfest, Bluesfest, the January and April Home Shows, and the Arts & Craft Expo. Latitude-88, Inc. is seeking three-year recurring license agreements to continue holding these events.
These annual events draw significant attendance from residents and visitors and have become established traditions within Indian River County. Collectively, they provide a mix of cultural festivals, music programming, home improvement exhibitions, and artisan markets, generating community engagement and contributing to local economic activity through attendee and vendor spending.
The Fairgrounds’ centralized layout and capacity support efficient operations for large-scale events. Latitude-88, Inc. has a longstanding working relationship with the County Parks Division staff, and its familiarity with the venue supports consistent logistical coordination. The attached License Agreements and proposed fees outline the terms and scope of these recurring events over the three-year period.
BUDGETARY IMPACT
No funding is required for the subject task. The resulting approval will provide revenue to the General Fund/Service Charges/Fairgrounds Fees account in the estimated amount of $97,875. Associated camping revenue is not included in the estimate.
POTENTIAL FUTURE BOARD ACTIONS
The Board of County Commissioners may approve future License Agreements with Latitude-88, Inc.
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT
Quality of Life
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Recommended Action
Staff respectfully requests that the Board of County Commissioners approve the License Agreements with Latitude-88, Inc. and authorize the Chairman to execute the Agreements after review and approval by the County Attorney for legal sufficiency. Staff further request that the Board authorize the Deputy County Administrator or his designee to make minor, non-substantive amendments to the Agreements as needed over the next two years should they be necessary.