NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. – The Fourth of July is one of the busiest holidays in New Smyrna Beach and with it falling on a Thursday this year, police are gearing up for four days of crowds.
On top of that, the police also putting out warnings about a possible unsanctioned, pop-up event that could come to town this weekend.
Chief Eric Feldman told News 6 that the unsanctioned event is supposedly canceled after his officers sent the organizer a cease and desist letter, but they’re still putting a “special event zone” in place on Saturday for Pettis Park and the surrounding area mainland. It’ll increase the penalties for anyone who breaks a law in that designated area.
That’s just one tool the police are using over the next week to try and manage the crowds.
“We will have quite a few additional officers down on Flagler Avenue just to make sure we keep things calm,” Feldman said. “Down on Flagler in our tourist district we typically see a lot of unaccompanied juveniles.”
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Feldman said this year they will have the city’s new juvenile curfew in place, making sure anyone under 18 has an adult with them after 11 p.m.
“Last year we saw a lot of kids come over from Central Florida on the Fourth of July, they didn’t all behave so we will be reiterating that the curfew is in effect. You’ll see signs coming into town reminding them that there’s a curfew,” he said.
Of course, there is one group that loves the crowds: the businesses.
“This town’s always busy. We’re always ready. We’re busy all the time so bring it on,” said Terry Bartley.
Bartley is the general manager of The Breakers Restaurant.
“As long as everyone hydrates, keeps themselves maintained like adults should, we’ll be fine,” he said.
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