Racine Neighborhood Celebrates End Of Prohibition — 82 Years Later

RACINE, WI — Prohibition in the U.S. ended more than 80 years ago, but on Saturday, a neighborhood in Racine will be officially celebrating the end of their own prohibition.

In 1935 — two years after the end of prohibition in the U.S. — the Racine City Council created remonstrance districts, which banned the sale of alcohol in areas of West Racine, including its business district. Racine's "dry districts" will end with a bang on Saturday, Oct. 14 as the area celebrates with the West Racine Fall Festival, which will include a beer tent.

Racine's Ninth District Alderman Terry McCarthy, whose district serves the West Racine area, was effective in leading the push to repeal the decades-old law. “They are an anachronism,” McCarthy said in a Journal Times report earlier this year. “Zoning now disallows what they were intended to prevent.”

The repeal of the West Racine remonstrance districts will likely open up opportunities for existing businesses - and new businesses - to serve or sell alcohol.

In the meantime, a family-friendly festival in West Racine will set up something new: a beer tent.

West Racine is a neighborhood straddling Washington Ave. to the east and west. The neighborhood grew around the old North Shore rail line, which closed for good in the 1960s.

About the Festival

The West Racine Fall Festival will be held from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 14. at the corner of West Boulevard and Washington Ave. This area is typically inhabited by the area's weekly farmer's market.

Children's Activities:

pumpkin decorating
face painting
a movie-viewing at sunset
build your own scarecrow
Racine Fire Department exhibits

Other Activities:

A history lesson about the local North Shore Railroad
Scent training for dogs
Racine International Folk Dancers performance
Celtic group County Crossings performance from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Photo Credit: Scott Anderson/Patch.com