City Main Beach Marquee goes commercial?

By Susan Hardee Steger

April 25, 2019 3:00 p.m.

A city marquee located at Main Beach in Fernandina Beach shows a Slider's "Slammer Time Music Party Every Night" and a Putt Putt ad painted below.

A City of Fernandina Beach's marquee located at Main Beach, has gone commercial. Perhaps the transition from only advertising city and nonprofit events to allowing business advertisements as well took place months or even years ago.  But the recent display of an event at Slider's caught our attention.

The Fernandina Observer asked Parks & Recreation Director Nan Voit if the city had a policy regarding the use of its marquees. "Anyone can advertise on our signs as long as the sign is available for use and they pay a fee," said Voit.

When asked when the marquee was allowed to "go commercial," Vott said, "This is the first time that I can recall a local business renting a marquee.  Anyone can rent the sign. Commercial, private, non-profit. Just like our facility rentals."

The cost for a business to advertise or for a nonprofit to promote an event in in the high visibility area of Main Beach is $10 a day.