Strawberry Festival president urges clearer DORA guidance after enforcement confusion

Clarissa Ramy, who identified herself as president of the London Strawberry Festival, told the London City Council that festival organizers had permits signed by police leadership but that police officers and organizers were not clear how DORA (designated outdoor refreshment area) rules should be enforced inside festival boundaries.

Ramy said festival organizers obtained a state beer permit and a temporary permit signed by Chief Nichols and the safety-service director. During the event, she said, people arrived with DORA cups and festival volunteers attempted to prevent those cups from being used inside the festival footprint; when organizers called police, officers said they were unsure how to proceed and made phone calls to their chief and the safety-service director for clarification.

Ramy asked the city to give festival organizers clear, written instructions about what actions they must take (posting signs, using DORA cups, or other steps) and to communicate those instructions to all relevant city personnel so businesses, law enforcement and festival volunteers can respond consistently. She said the confusion led to public complaints and social-media posts that strained relationships between businesses and the festival board.

Council members acknowledged the event was the first time the DORA was fully in place in the downtown area and said they would work to smooth out procedures going forward. Officials emphasized they value the festival’s volunteer base and indicated they will coordinate clearer guidance for future events.

Next steps: Council directed staff to review DORA procedures and provide guidance to organizers, law enforcement and downtown businesses ahead of upcoming events.