Strawberry Festival president asks city for clearer DORA guidance after enforcement confusion

Clarissa Rainey, president of the London Strawberry Festival, told the council she appreciated the city's support but urged clearer guidance after confusion over DORA (designated outdoor refreshment area) rules at the festival.

Rainey said festival organizers held a state beer permit and a temporary permit signed by the police chief and the safety-service director, but volunteers and police were unsure how to handle attendees with DORA cups. "Our police enforcement did not know what to do either," Rainey said, describing calls by officers to supervisors during the event. She said the lack of consistent instruction strained relationships with downtown business owners and volunteers and created online criticism.

The festival president said she accepts some responsibility for tensions but asked the city to clearly state who is responsible for posting signs, communicating boundaries and arranging DORA cups so future events are not "guinea pig" experiments. City officials acknowledged this was the first major event with DORA fully in place and said they are working with the law director to clarify procedures.

What happens next: festival leaders invited city representatives to an Ohio festivals conference in November and asked staff to provide written, advance instructions for licensing, boundaries and enforcement so festival staff, police and businesses share a common understanding going forward.