Lowell licensing panel approves Winterfest permits, multiple one‑day alcohol licenses and festival permits

The Lowell Lisonbee Commission on Feb. 26 approved a package of event permits and one‑day alcohol licenses tied to the city’s upcoming Winterfest and other community festivals, and set a public hearing for a proposed package‑store license transfer.

Sofia Boucher, identified in the record as a City of Lowell case officer, presented an application for amplified outdoor entertainment at the Lowell Winterfest on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026, saying the footprint would include Merrimack Street, the Rockland Trust parking lot and portions of Bridal and Palmer streets. Commissioner Mercier moved approval; Commissioner Krieger seconded and the motion passed.

Corey Belanger of the Lowell Festival Foundation described two one‑day alcohol licenses for Winterfest: a full alcoholic‑beverages license for the sponsor hospitality tent (1–8 p.m.) and a wines‑and‑malt license for the celebration tent (1–10 p.m.) on Meramec Street. The commission approved both licenses.

The commission also approved public‑amusement licenses submitted by John Flynn of Fiesta Shows for two carnivals — March 26–April 5 at the Holy Ghost Society site and May 21–31 at Regatta Field — after Flynn confirmed ride inspections and state ride‑certificate renewals were underway and that coordination with police, fire, building and health departments would occur before events.

Applications from a community organizer identified in the agenda as Vinnie for the Wat Lao annual Lao New Year celebration (Temple grounds, amplification noon–8 p.m.; alcohol on Sunday only) and for a fundraising festival at the Hellenic Center on March 28 were approved after the police captain told the commission he had found no neighborhood complaints for last year’s event.

Hyve Public Market received approval for three one‑day wine‑and‑malt licenses for evening market dates; Jennifer Sireddy said the first event went well and that bartender certifications had been provided to staff.

New local businesses received licenses as well: Foodlossophy (Richard Blair) was approved for a common‑victualler license at 19 Hart Street; Tidu (manager Raxmi Soe) received a common‑victualler license for 127 Meramec Street; and Parkview Holdings LLC (Robert Murphy, presented by Kevin Murphy) received a Class 2 used auto dealer license for 1625 Middlesex Street. Murphy’s presentation included site dimensions and a statement that the operation would start with a small number of specialty vehicles rather than the lot’s full 100‑vehicle capacity.

The commission scheduled a public hearing for March 12, 2026, on a proposed transfer of a wine‑and‑malt package store license for 1 East Meadow Road to Mitul Parajapati; Commissioners asked the police captain to provide a traffic and complaint history for the intersection at that hearing. The commission also received and placed on file a memorandum from the law department concerning off‑premises license applications.

Votes at a glance: the commission approved the Winterfest amplified‑entertainment permit and associated alcohol licenses, one‑day alcohol licenses for Hyve Public Market, amusement licenses for two carnivals, special‑event and alcohol permits for Wat Lao and Hellenic Center events, common‑victualler licenses for Foodlossophy and Tidu, and the Class 2 auto‑dealer license for Parkview Holdings. A public hearing was scheduled for the package‑store license transfer to Mitul Parajapati on March 12, 2026.

The meeting adjourned following a motion by Commissioner Krieger and a second by Commissioner Underwood.