Tiburon chamber gets its six-festival max for Main Street, reserving three

The local chamber’s Friday Nights on Main will shut down Tiburon’s lower Main Street for “One Night Only” on June 9, as will its Shop Local Sunday event and Tiburon Holiday Festival under new rules that will limit closures to six events per year — with three reserved to promote local businesses.

In a 3-0 vote May 17, the Town Council backed the Tiburon Peninsula Chamber of Commerce’s pitch to settle a two-year debate over closures of lower Main Street, as tension has been ramping up between business owners and other community interests. Councilmember Jon Welner was absent and the council has one vacancy.

“We truly believe this is a balanced approach,” chamber Executive Director DeAnn Biss told the council, requesting no more delays in setting closure limits as summer approaches. “We need clear recognition from our Town Council of our business needs.”

Before the pandemic, the chamber was allowed to close the street at least six times per year to promote downtown businesses, typically with monthly Friday Nights on Main festivals through the summer and the December holiday festival.

But as the town emerged from the pandemic shutdown of large public gatherings, there have been competing requests to close lower Main.

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