TO: Margate CRA Chair and Members of the Board
FROM: Cale Curtis, CRA Executive Director
DATE: September 9, 2026
Title
APPROVAL OF A TEMPORARY USE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE MARGATE COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY AND HILDEBRAND AMUSEMENT RIDES, INC., TO HOLD THE FAIR AT MARGATE ON MCRA OWNED PROPERTIES FROM NOVEMBER 9 TO DECEMBER 20, 2026.
BACKGROUND: Hildebrand Amusement Rides, Inc., is requesting approval to use six MCRA owned properties to hold The Fair at Margate from November 9, 2026 through December 20, 2026 (*42 days). The main operation of the Fair will take place at 1000 North State Road 7 (former Swap Shop) and the other five parcels will be for parking. The properties being requested are identified in Exhibit A of the attached Temporary Use Agreement.
The Fair at Margate is requesting use of the properties as follows:
• November 9 through November 20, 2026 (*12 days) for event setup
• November 20 through December 6, 2026 (17 days) for event operations
• December 6 through December 20, 2026 (*15 days) for take-down
*Note: 8 extra days (1 before and 7 after) than last year
The request is to operate the Fair during the following hours:
• Monday through Thursday: 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
• Friday: 6:00 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.
• Saturday: 2:00 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.
• Sunday: 2:00 p.m. to midnight
The Fair would include the following features: Food vendors; arts & crafts; other product vendors; live entertainment; amusement park rides; kiddie rides; bounce house; inflatables; circus and midway games. Estimated attendance is 40,000 attendees.
At this time, the requestor, Hildebrand Amusement Rides, Inc., is seeking approval from the MCRA Board to hold the Fair on MCRA owned properties. As is always the case, if the Board approves the Temporary Use Agreement, this request will need to go through the Temporary Use Permit process and go before the City Commission for approval due to the length of the event and the hours of operation. City Code limits such events to no more than 21 consecutive calendar days (this request is for 42 days); City Code requires event closure at 10:00 p.m. (this request is for 11:00 p.m. during the weekdays, midnight on Sundays and 12:30 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays). Use of the City stage is also requested which requires City approval.
RECOMMENDATION: For Board review and direction
FISCAL IMPACT: The Temporary Use Agreement submitted by Hildebrand Amusement Rides, Inc., indicates that a rental payment of $50,000 for use of the property would be made to the MCRA; $25,000 would be paid on November 21, 2026 and $25,000 would be paid on December 1, 2026. In addition, Hildebrand indicate they will prepay $100,000 for Fire and Police services on November 20, 2026. Last year, the total bill for Fire and Police Services was approximately $180,000.
CONTACT PERSON: Cale Curtis, CRA Executive Director