When it comes to local festivals, where can you smoke?

Not under the Big Top at Fort Dodge's Frontier Days.

Charles Clayton, who served as chairman of Frontier Days from 2006 through 2009, said Friday that the Smokefree Air Act was brought to his attention at this year's festival when a man approached him and said the tent must be smoke-free because it was enclosed and was operating with a state-issued liquor license.

"He came to me and said there couldn't be smoking, so we put down all the flaps on the tent and told everyone they would have to go elsewhere to smoke," Clayton said.

The man was partially correct.

According to the Iowa Department of Public Health, the liquor license is not what made the smoke-free law applicable at Frontier Days; it was the live entertainment held under the Big Top.

"Smoking is prohibited in any seating area for live entertainment or where food is being served," said Ramona Ubaldo, a clerk with the Iowa Department of Public Health's Tobacco Division. "Even if the area is outdoors in open air."

She said the seating areas also include those where audience members bring in their own chairs.

Other outdoor areas included in the Smokefree Air Act include sports arenas, stadiums and ampitheaters.

Since the law went into effect July 1, 2008, many communities with celebrations during the month of June are holding their first celebrations under the Iowa Smokefree Air Act.

Todd Partlow, a coordinator for Manson's Greater Crater days, said that not he nor anyone on the committee has been notified of any changes that need to be made to the celebration to accommodate the Smokefree Air Act. County and state fairgrounds are exempt; Manson's celebration takes place at the Manson fairgrounds.

"I haven't been made aware of anything that would require changes," Partlow said. "We have security if needed and can place no-smoking signs if we have to, but I haven't been notified."

The same goes for Webster City's Raspberry Festival, which is a public event held on private property.

Assistant City Manager Kent Harfst, who is also a 2009 Raspberry Festival co-chairman, said the community hasn't been told of any changes that may need to be made to the celebration according to any state laws.

"We haven't talked about it as a group," said Harfst. "Smoking hasn't been much of a problem in the past. It's a family event, so smoking hasn't been noticed as a concern."

The law also prohibits smoking in any enclosed buildings or shelters located within state. county and city parks.

For organizers of Gowrie's Independence Day celebration, this rule is obeyed as best as possible as the majority of the festivities take place in the city park.

Gowrie Mayor Dick Phillips said the city posts no-smoking signs in and around the park's shelter house, which is the site of a dinner, bingo game and food stand throughout the course of the three-day celebration.

"Smoking isn't allowed in any of the city-owned buildings," said Phillips. "On the Fourth of July we have signs around the shelter house. We're not looking to get the police involved if we see someone in the park with a cigarette."

Ubaldo said it has been a busy summer for the state Department of Public Health with numerous inquiries and questions coming in about how to regulate smoking at festivals.

"We're getting a lot of calls from festival coordinators to see what they can and can't do," she said. "We encourage people to call with any questions which will minimize any problems."

Contact Emilie Nelson at (515)573-2141 or enelson@messengernews.net