Minocqua’s annual Beef-A-Rama celebration continues to bring in record crowds, but this year’s event raised a few eyebrows.
The Minocqua Town Board Tuesday (12/1)grappled with limiting the number of hours the open container law should be waived on that day, as well as requiring fencing around the Rotary and Lions clubs’ beer gardens.
Supervisors Bryan Jennings and Sue Heil both cited concerns of people upset with the public drinking downtown, especially after the “Parade of Beefs” ends in the afternoon. Heil said no matter the number of reported incidents the perception of overindulgence has to be addressed...
“I heard things from people this year that I had never heard throughout the years that I’ve been here. I’m hearing more and more about it becoming a big drinkfest. And that is not what Beef-A-Rama should be. But then I also found out that the chamber had a lot more kids events and that they well received, and things went well. I’m not sure what the answer is to keep this from the perception that is getting worse each year.”
But Lion Club member Tom Handrick said the incidents tied to drinking were both few and minor. “People are overreacting” regarding the alleged problems, he said. In the end, the board took no action but will discuss it again before next year’s event.
