The Abridged version:
- Winters is establishing an “entertainment zone” downtown.
- The zone will allow customers of certain downtown businesses to carry “to-go” alcoholic beverages on streets and sidewalks.
- It will be in effect on weekends between March 1 and Oct. 31, and summer Thursdays to complement the city’s concert series.
Weekends in downtown Winters will soon look a little boozier than they have in the past.
At the March 17 City Council meeting, members approved a proposal from city staff to establish an official entertainment zone in the heart of town. The plan will allow customers to buy alcoholic beverages at downtown businesses and carry or consume them on the surrounding streets and sidewalks.
Similar to ones that have been put in place elsewhere in the region, including in Woodland, the ordinance was made possible by Senate Bill 969, which went into effect at the beginning of 2025. Proponents of the concept say that blocking off certain areas of cities and counties and allowing “to-go” alcoholic beverages is a way to increase foot traffic and boost local business.
Sign Up for the Yolo County Newsletter
Stay in-the-know on all things Yolo! Weekly email with stories and insights from Yolo County reporter Daniel Hennessy.
In Winters, the idea has been met with enthusiasm from the business community. According to the staff report provided for the March 3 council meeting, a dozen local businesses, including Buckhorn Steakhouse, Putah Creek Café, Steady Eddy’s Coffee House and Preserve, have signed on as participants.
What are the rules of entertainment zones?
The entertainment zone doesn’t come without restrictions.
It will only be in effect on weekends between March 1 and Oct. 31 and on Thursdays over the summer to complement the city’s concert series downtown. It will also have strict geographic boundaries, with the intersection of Main Street and Railroad Avenue as the core. At the initial meeting about the ordinance on March 3, the northern boundary was Edwards Street, but councilmembers moved the boundary to Abbey Street on March 17.
Businesses will also be required to serve their beverages in non-glass, non-metal containers like reusable cups.
Daniel Hennessy joins Abridged from the California Local News Fellowship. He’s a reporter covering Yolo County.