Crime & Safety

Alcohol Just Part of the Tradition at Butter and Eggs?

Residents say they're fed up with vomit on the sidewalks, broken windows and other problems following the Butter and Eggs parade. Others say the rowdiness is just part of the experience

Police officials said they would meet with the Downtown Association to discuss ways to curb alcohol-related incidents during and after Butter and Eggs Day Parade following the .

The arrests included five DUIs, several fights along with reports of people urinating on cars and slashing tires. But Patch readers also described finding vomit outside their businesses and feeling scared by the post-parade rowdiness that stretched well into the night.

“Of course there are many positive aspects of Butter and Eggs Days; the Good Egg Award, the Cutest Little Chick contest and the Parade are all lovely,” wrote Regina Leoni, who owns iLeoni on Kentucky Street on Petaluma Patch. “However, all of this is eclipsed by the incessant vandalism and unlawful behavior that takes place after the parade.”

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Police warned the public not to jump to conclusions too quickly because it’s not clear if the source of problems were the beer gardens, the bars or something else entirely, such as people bringing their own alcohol to the event.

“We don’t know if they went to a beer garden and had one drink and then went to local bars and had four more,” said Lt. Tim Lyons, a police spokesman.

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Police received 68 calls for service downtown on Saturday, typical for Butter and Eggs Day, the largest event of the year, Lt. Lyons said. “We don’t know if it’s the beer gardens, the clubs or just the party atmosphere,” he said.

Three years ago, the city created beer gardens during Butter and Eggs in an attempt to control where attendees were drinking. People were also given bracelets to prevent underage drinking and the number of beer gardens was reduced from four to two, said Marie McCusker, executive director of Petaluma Downtown Association.

"We have a high concentration of bars, we know that, and that creates the party atmosphere," McCusker said. "There has been a laid back feeling about alcohol over the years and as a downtown director I would like that lessened."

She said the it was important to keep the problem in perspective and that the parade itself was a success. Beer gardens are a major source of revenue for the cash-strapped parade and shutting them would mean the end of the annual event, which attracts some 30,000 people a year.

"If we don’t have the beer gardens, we couldn’t do the parade," McCusker said. "We’ve already lost a lot of funding. And if you take the beer gardens away, you’re not going to cure this issue," adding that the beer gardens already close at 3:30pm.

Instead, McCusker said, she wants to open more dialogue with bar owners.

Many agree something must be done to rein in the post-parade ruckus which they say crosses the line from good, old-fashioned fun.

“Yes, I do remember being younger and partying,” wrote Petaluma Patch reader localmom. “But no, I never peed on someone else’s bushes, didn't slash tires, didn't jump up on top of cars, didn't break windows of storefronts…Yes, young people will always have their fun, but there's a point where it's beyond "having fun" and it becomes destructive, disgusting behavior.”

But others argued that alcohol has come to be as much a part of the parade as the cow chip throwing and the Cutest Little Chick contest.

“Post-parade partying has become a tradition for many, and will continue to happen regardless of regulation,” wrote Ian Inman, who owns , a youth recreation center. “Even if beer gardens are eliminated (which would most likely mean - no parade) people will still drink and find ways to party after the parade.”

He added that people who feel uncomfortable being part of the party following the parade, should go home.

“If you enjoy the parade and kid-friendly attractions then stick around downtown from 11 -3,” Inman said in his comments. “If you don't mind being a part of a huge street party, then stay later. There's no way to eliminate one without the other.”

Police said they would study the time and locations of the arrests, along with other relevant details, to determine the source of the problems.

“If someone is arrested at 10pm and the beer gardens closed at 6pm, obviously the problem is elsewhere,” Lyons said. A message left for the Alcoholic Beverage Control, which fines bars that are not in compliance, did not return phone calls Tuesday.


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