Salisbury, Maryland — Downtown Salisbury is raising a glass to something new. This summer, the City is introducing T.A.P.S. – To-go Alcohol in Public Spaces, the first program of its kind in Maryland, allowing adults 21 and over to enjoy to-go alcoholic beverages while strolling through designated areas during select downtown events.
“As we attempt to make Downtown increasingly vibrant and inviting, the T.A.P.S. program will be a great addition to the toolbox to making events and the Downtown restaurants work in tandem. We are very excited for this launch and look forward to a positive result! “
-Mayor Randy Taylor
Here’s how it works: Guests can visit any participating bar or restaurant within the event footprint, look for the T.A.P.S. signage, and ask their server about the program. After an ID check, they’ll receive a wristband along with their drink served in a T.A.P.S.-branded cup. From there, they’re free to sip and stroll within the clearly marked T.A.P.S. boundaries.
To keep things safe and enjoyable, drinks must be purchased from a participating business in the event footprint and served in the official T.A.P.S. cups. Guests aren’t allowed to bring in outside alcohol or cups, and drinks must stay within the designated area – leaving the zone with an alcoholic beverage isn’t permitted and may result in penalties. Additionally, beverages can’t be brought inside other businesses along the route, so visitors are asked to finish or discard their drink before entering another shop, restaurant, or bar.
2025 T.A.P.S. Event Dates
- 3rd Friday: August 15, October 17, November 21 (5pm-8:30pm)
- Maryland Folk Festival: September 19 (5pm-10pm), September 20 (Noon-10pm), September 21 (12:30pm-6:30pm)
- New Year’s Eve: December 31 (9pm-12:30am)
Program organizers hope T.A.P.S. will bring more energy to downtown events, encouraging people to linger, explore, and support local businesses.
For more information about upcoming T.A.P.S. events or to find out how your business can participate, email info@downtownsalisbury.org.
About ABCD
The Arts, Business and Culture Department is responsible for fostering Salisbury’s thriving economic climate through supporting business, expanding economic opportunity, promoting artistic expression, hosting unique experiences, and maintaining regional attractions such as the Salisbury Zoo and Poplar Hill Mansion. By producing signature events, facilitating business incentives, and collaborating with stakeholders, this department strives to make Salisbury a place where arts, business, and culture intersect and flourish. https://salisbury.md/departments/arts-business-culture
About the City of Salisbury, Maryland
Founded in 1732, Salisbury is the county seat of Wicomico County, a place where John Smith touched land in 1608 during his exploration of the Chesapeake Bay, bringing him in contact with the Wighcocomoco or Wicomico, the Nause, the Kusk’arawack, and the Nantaquack or Nanticoke tribes who had lived in the region for several millennia. Situated on Maryland’s historic Eastern Shore at the crossroads of the Delmarva Peninsula, Salisbury is now one of the region’s largest cities, and serves as the capital of the Eastern Shore, a rural area defined by its agricultural and maritime traditions, landscapes, and industries.
The Chesapeake Bay is central to this distinctive identity. Though a relatively small city, Salisbury is the geographic and economic hub of one of the nation’s fastest-growing Metropolitan Statistical Areas. The City of Salisbury is working to build its reputation as an arts and culture destination and is aligning its downtown development and revitalization efforts with the arts. Salisbury believes hosting the Maryland Folk Festival is the perfect catalyst to further a cultural renaissance and urban renewal. https://salisbury.md/
