Anoka Social District

Opens: Thursday, May 1, 2025
NEW: Effective Oct. 7, 2025, the Anoka Social District is open through the full calendar year (with the exception of the Anoka Halloween Parades event dates:  Light up the Night Parade (Oct. 18) , Big Parade of Little People (Oct. 24), and the Grande Day Parade (Oct. 25).  


On Oct. 6, 2025, the Anoka City Council voted in favor to amend the ordinance regulating social districts and the Management and Maintenance Plan for the Anoka Social District, allowing the district to remain open through the entire calendar year, effective Oct. 7, 2025.   This includes the remainder of 2025 and each year thereafter. The district hours will remain 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.   One exception is  the Anoka Halloween parades, which includes the Light Up the Night Parade, Big Parade of Little People, and the Grande Day Parade. Sipping and strolling on these dates each year is not allowed.      

District Hours:  10 a.m. - 10 p.m. 
Sunday - Sunday / 7 days a week

After a successful 30-day pilot program in 2023 and a successful 5-month program in 2024, the City of Anoka is again hosting the Anoka Social District in 2025.  

2025 Boundary Map

What is a Social District?  

A "Social District" is a specific area which allows people to purchase and drink beer, wine, or a cocktail from a licensed business and walk through a defined area of the city including public spaces such as a sidewalk or street to allows for participation in a district event/activity.

How was Anoka allowed a Social District?

During the 2022 Minnesota Legislative Session as part of the Omnibus Liquor Bill that was signed into law, a special provision was included only for the City of Anoka, enabling the City to establish a "Social District".  This law is exclusive to the City of Anoka, in the State of Minnesota.   

Anoka worked closely with State Representative Zack Stephenson who assisted with changing state law exclusively for Anoka.

Anoka is hosting a pilot program and will report back to the State on its findings to set an example for Anoka and other cities to implement a social district in the future.  

What does this mean for bars and restaurants in Anoka?

  • Businesses with a liquor license and a social district license can participate along with its patrons within the district's defined boundaries.
  • Businesses participating in the social district can allow its customers to buy and take their alcoholic beverage and consume it in the defined Common Areas such as on the sidewalk, Riverfront Memorial Park, in the street (when blocked off for special events),  or as part of a special event within the social district boundaries.  
  • Licensed businesses will serve alcoholic beverages in a special social district plastic recyclable cup.  The social district logo is included on the cups.  Businesses may choose to mark each cup with their permit number for ID.  

Licensed Businesses  

The following businesses have chosen to participate in and are licensed to sell adult beverages during the social district pilot program. If additional applications are received, they will be processed and sent to the City Council for approval.  We will add any additional businesses to the list as applications are approved.  

Customers (21 and older) may purchase alcoholic beverages from any of the following and then sip and stroll within the district. Drinks cannot, however, be brought from one establishment into another that sells alcohol.  

The following businesses have applied for and were approved for a 2025 license.    

Businesses:  ORDER CUPS


Buskers and Street Performers 

For events at Riverfront Memorial Park - remember, no "BYOB" alcohol may be brought into this park from home.  All alcohol within the park (and the Social District boundary) must be provided by a Social District licensed businesses/organization and be in an authorized Social District plastic, recyclable cup.  

  1. May Events
  2. June Events 
  3. July Events
  4. August Events
  5. September Events
  6. October Events


  • Thursday, May 1, 2025  - Social District Opens 


  • Saturday, May 10, 2025

    Anoka Mother's Day Stroll

    Downtown Anoka | 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Look for these window clings at the entrance of businesses within the social district indicating if they are permitted to sell and if social district beverages are allowed in their store/business.    

Window Cling Graphic

  • Burgundy Sign (Sold Here):  This is a permitted business that may sell beverages into the social district.  
  • Green Sign (Drinks Welcome):  This is a retailer that allows social district beverages into their business.  
  • Red Sign (No Drinks Permitted): This is a retailer that does NOT allow social district beverages into their business.     

Social District Cup

This is an example of the social district cup.   Cups inculde the social district logo and also include "Be 21 - Drink Social District CupResponsibly".  Each time a customer orders a new drink, they will receive a new cup.  

The cup isSocial District Recycling Container  a made of recyclable plastic. To help reduce waste, please properly dispose of each cup in the blue-lid, labeled recycling containers within the social district boundaries. Cups may not leave the social district boundaries.  

  • The public may NOT "bring your own from home" adult beverage into the social district (including into Riverfront Memorial Park). 
  •  Alcoholic beverages purchased by non-participating businesses may not be brought into the social district.  
  • Alcoholic beverages purchased at a participating business may not be brought into another participating bar or restaurant.  

Signage

Signs are displayed throughout the social district and near the boundary.    

Large Map Welcome and Exit

Welcome and Exit Signs with Rules