Albany

Saturday's LarkFest might be the last one where its thousands of partygoers are allowed to imbibe.

A combination of the cost and neighborhood opposition has the Lark Street Business Improvement District reconsidering serving alcohol at the popular one-day event.

Patrick Noonan, Lark Street BID chairman, said the expense of police, fire and EMTs is growing. And neighbors on both sides of the annual extravaganza of booze and bands have always bemoaned its crowds, noise and the ruckus they cause. Without alcohol, the cost of city services would go down, as would general rowdiness.

"LarkFest is great for the businesses," said Noonan who owns El Loco and was speaking from Saturday's 35th festival. "But we have to be cognizant of the neighbors and the cost."

The Lark Street BID spends about $40,000 to $50,000 to host the festival. While they earn some money from vendors and businesses, they pay for the bands and permits. They also plan all the logistics, which include closing down the street for the day.

If the Lark Street BID bans drinking, the festival is going the way of many of Albany's major events including the St. Patrick's Day parade, the Tulip Festival and Alive at Five.

Discussions on how to keep the fest financially afloat happen every year, said Darius Shahinfar, treasurer of the BID.

"It's been a balancing act for years," said Shahinfar. "Because the BID is self-funding the event and don't get any money from the city, it can be difficult."

Shahinfar would rather see many smaller events throughout the year that could promote the business, events that would be less expensive and less disruptive to residents.

Shahinfar said there is always the possibility that Saturday's festival will be the last, but Noonan doubts it.

"It's a financial burden for the BID, but we are planning a fundraiser for Halloween," said Noonan. "I don't want to be the one to say there will be no (36th) annual LarkFest."

wliberatore@timesunion.com • 518-454-5445 • @wendyliberatore