Charles County’s Board of License Commissioners approved temporary alcohol permits for nine fall fundraisers and community events at a recent meeting, clearing the way for a busy season of farm dinners, bull roasts and charity festivals across the county.
The biggest item on the agenda was Camp SOD, a two-day music festival at Regency Furniture Stadium on Sept. 26-27 expected to draw a combined 5,000 people, which the Chronicle previously reported after the board’s approval. Board members pressed organizers on security and alcohol containment, ultimately approving the permit with a detailed plan for fenced, 21-and-over drinking areas separate from the main stadium bowl.
Several smaller, recurring community fundraisers also received approval:
- Butler’s Enchantment Farm in Waldorf got permits for its fourth annual Southern Maryland Crab Feast (Sept. 19) and a new “R&B on the Lawn” event (Sept. 27), both drawing roughly 300 people to the Gardiner Road farm, with wristband-controlled drinking areas and Charles County Sheriff’s Office coordination.
- Farming for Hunger Inc. received a permit for its “Farewell to Summer” BBQ (Sept. 26) at its Hughesville farm, expecting about 125 guests.
- Veterans’ Bloom, a mental health nonprofit for veterans, got approval for a fundraising dinner and silent auction (Oct. 10) at Sakaya Ridge Farm in La Plata, with proceeds benefiting veteran-support organizations including Leashes of Valor.
- La Plata Volunteer Fire Department received a permit for its 14th annual Hunters Extravaganza (Oct. 3) at the Charles County Fairgrounds, expecting up to 500 attendees for a raffle that includes firearms, cash and off-road vehicles.
- Chaney Cares, the charitable foundation of Chaney Enterprises, got approval for its 47th annual Bull Roast (Oct. 24) at its Waldorf campus. A representative told the board the event raised roughly $100,000 last year for organizations including the Boys & Girls Club, Habitat for Humanity, and Farming for Hunger.
- Waldorf Lions Foundation received a permit for its annual “Gun Bash” raffle (Nov. 11) at the fairgrounds, a tradition running more than 20 years in partnership with Ducks Unlimited.
- Martini’s Restaurant and Lounge in Waldorf was approved for a temporary outdoor expansion (Sept. 19) to host a fundraiser for the Sigma Iota Lambda chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, which funds scholarships, food pantry donations, and Thanksgiving meal drives across the tri-county area — contingent on the venue submitting a parking plan to the board.
In a separate action, the board approved the transfer of World Liquors and Fine Wines’ license from its current Crane Highway location to a new, more centrally located spot in the same Waldorf shopping center, near the Aldi grocery store. The relocation is contingent on the business securing a health permit and use-and-occupancy approval within 120 days; the store’s hours and operations will otherwise remain unchanged, though it will lose its drive-through window at the new site.
