Council approves fee tiers for Cheese & Wine festival, including low-cost sponsorship tier

The Riverbank City Council on April 23 adopted a fee schedule for the city’s Cheese & Wine festival that sets tiered sponsorship levels, program fees and merchandise pricing.

Michael Patton, Parks and Recreation director, described sponsorship tiers (examples cited up to $5,000 with additional tiers at $2,500, $1,500, and lower-priced options designed to include small businesses), program fee ranges (including a $0 option for free activities such as a kids’ corner) and merchandise pricing up to $100 for items like wine glasses and t-shirts. Staff said specific sponsor benefits are being finalized.

During the public hearing some Zoom participants and council members endorsed keeping an inexpensive ‘boxed wine’ sponsorship tier to make the event accessible to small businesses. After discussion the council moved and approved the item on a 5–0 roll call.

What’s next: Staff will finalize sponsorship benefits, program details and packages and return as needed with any updates or implementation steps ahead of the festival.