P R O C L A M A T I O N
Designating the First Weekend in May as “Fort Bragg Blues Festival Weekend” WHEREAS, the Fort Bragg Blues Festival has quickly become one of the community’s most valued cultural traditions, bringing outstanding blues music to residents and visitors through a diverse array of performances across the city; and WHEREAS, the festival has expanded significantly since its debut in 2025, with the 2026 program presenting twelve live performances at indoor venues, Noyo Headlands Park, Bainbridge Park, the Glen Blair Bar, and the Skunk Train, creating a multi-day celebration that highlights the creative spirit of Fort Bragg; and WHEREAS, music has long been an essential part of life on the Mendocino Coast, serving as a source of community connection, inspiration, and cultural identity, and the City of Fort Bragg recognizes the importance of supporting and revitalizing the arts as a defining characteristic of who we are; and WHEREAS, the festival attracts visitors from throughout California and beyond, demonstrating Fort Bragg’s growing role as a regional cultural destination and strengthening the city’s tourism-based economy; and WHEREAS, the arrival of visitors during the early May shoulder season provides a significant lift to hotels, short-term rentals, restaurants, shops, and hospitality businesses, creating an economic benefit during a time of year that traditionally experiences lower tourism activity; and WHEREAS, this increase in lodging during the festival weekend contributes meaningfully to the City’s Transient Occupancy Tax revenues, which strengthen municipal funds and help support vital public services, community programs, and infrastructure that benefit the residents of Fort Bragg throughout the year; and WHEREAS, the festival also enhances community life by supporting local nonprofit organizations and providing free public events such as the community concert at Harold O. Bainbridge Park, ensuring that the arts remain accessible to all members of the public; and WHEREAS, a multi-year commitment from the City will allow the festival to continue building on its momentum, encourage the participation of high-profile musicians and sponsors, and give local businesses confidence to plan for a reliable annual increase in visitors; and NOW THEREFORE, I, Jason Godeke, Mayor of the City of Fort Bragg, on behalf of the entire City Council, hereby designate the first weekend in May as Fort Bragg Blues Festival; and BE IT FURTHER PROCLAIMED that the City recognizes the Fort Bragg Blues Festival as an important cultural and economic asset that supports local businesses, enriches community life, celebrates the musical heritage of the Mendocino Coast, and strengthens Fort Bragg’s identity as a city that values and invests in the arts.
SIGNED this 24th day of August, 2026
JASON GODEKE, Mayor
ATTEST:
Diana Paoli, City Clerk
No. 31-2026