Is It Legal to Openly Drink Alcohol on the Street of Evansville’s Fall Festival

If you have ever attended the West Side Nut Club Fall Festival in Evansville and wondered if you can legally drink while you are out on Franklin Street, we've got the answer.

Indiana Liquor Laws

Like most states, Indiana has many laws regulating the sale, consumption, and transportation of alcohol. For example, it is illegal to sell or transfer alcohol to anyone under the legal drinking age of 21. It is also illegal to have an open container of alcohol in the interior cabin of a vehicle.

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You Cannot Carry In

Another Indiana State law when it comes to alcohol pertains to actual bars and restaurants. It is against the law to carry in an alcoholic beverage to a bar or restaurant. So make sure you aren't trying to walk into your favorite tavern with a cold one in your hand. But what about carrying a drink out and walking down the sidewalk?

Carrying Out and Open Containers

As it turns out, as strict as Indiana liquor laws are, there are no laws in place that prohibit you from publicly carrying an open container. According to a 2018 article from the IndyStar, some bars and restaurants may have personal policies preventing you from walking out the door with a beer or cocktail in your hand. The article says,

Indiana actually has no restrictions on the open carrying of alcohol in public spaces. Patrons are allowed to carry an alcoholic beverage in its original container out of a premise and consume it on the sidewalks. However, the premise may not allow drinks to be carried out as part of its policy.

Local Regulations Concerning Open Carry and Consumption of Alcohol

Not only does the state of Indiana permit the open carry and consumption of alcohol in public, but there are also no local regulations in place for Vanderburgh County or the city of Evansville prohibiting it either.

What About Alcohol at the West Side Nut Club Fall Festival?

So what does this mean for the West Side Nut Club Fall Festival? The short answer is you can drink openly while you enjoy all of the deep-fried goodness, but there are some things you should keep in mind.

READ MORE: Is It Legal to Transport Passengers in the Bed of Your Truck in Indiana?

What to Know Before Drinking Alcohol at Fall Festival

Both event organizers and local law enforcement do ask that if you are going to drink in public at the Fall Festival that you do not use any glass containers and instead opt for aluminum or plastic. You also will want to be sure that you allow yourself time to sober up before getting behind the wheel of your vehicle, have a designated driver or call a cab or ride-share service.

Other Indiana Liquor Laws You Should Know

There are a handful of other laws in the state of Indiana pertaining to alcohol sales and consumption that you may not know. Here are just a few:

• Prior to March 2018, it was illegal to buy or sell alcohol on Sundays in the state of Indiana but that law has been revised. Sales are now allowed on Sundays between the hours of noon and 8 pm.
• Happy-Hour used to be a no-go. Bars and restaurants weren't allowed to run special discounts on drinks during a specific window of time. Instead the discounted price must be in effect during all hours of operation for the day, but that changed in March 2024, when Governor Eric Holcolmb signed House Bill 1086 into law reinstating Happy Hours across Indiana.
• You can purchase alcohol on Election Day after the law was changed back in 2010.
• You can purchase alcohol on Christmas after the law was changed in 2015.
• Drinking and operating an electric scooter, kayak, canoe, boat, or any other motorized watercraft is illegal and can result in being ticketed for Driving Under the Influence.

Keep reading to find out what 11 items are prohibited or banned at Fall Festival.

[Source: iga.in.gov; IndyStar.com]