Garden of Lights Bartender

This is a temporary, seasonal, part-time position with multiple openings. Shifts are Wednesday through Sunday evenings, beginning with setup before doors open and ending after guests have departed and closing duties are complete, from November 18, 2026 through January 10, 2027, with a maximum of 25 hours per week. The event is closed December 24, December 25, December 31, and January 1.
The Garden of Lights Bartender serves alcoholic beverages to guests age 21 and over at Garden of Lights, one of the college’s premier community engagement events hosted at the Sandhills Horticultural Gardens. The Bartender checks identification, pours and serves drinks from the event menu, and processes cashless payments at the event bar.
Safe, legal, and responsible alcohol service is the top priority of this role. The Bartender verifies that every guest served is 21 or older, never serves anyone who is underage or appears intoxicated, and follows all North Carolina alcohol laws, the event’s alcohol permit requirements, and college policies at all times.
This is a family event, and friendly, efficient bar service is part of an excellent guest experience. Garden of Lights is a fast-paced event, with new groups of guests arriving every 30 minutes, so the Bartender must serve quickly and accurately while remaining welcoming and alert.
Works as part of the Garden of Lights event team, in close coordination with the alcohol sales lead, the Nightly Event Manager, and Barbacks, and promptly reports any incident, refused service, or safety concern.Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.
Shifts are Wednesday–Sunday evenings, November 18, 2026 – January 10, 2027 (closed December 24, 25, 31, and January 1), beginning with setup before doors open and ending after guests have departed and closing duties are complete, with a maximum of 25 hours per week. Garden of Lights is a cashless event. Consistent evening and weekend availability is required throughout the season.
Setup (Before Doors Open):

• Attend required pre-season training on responsible alcohol service, the event’s alcohol policies, the point-of-sale (POS) system, guest service standards, and emergency procedures.
• Check in with the alcohol sales lead or Nightly Event Manager to review the night’s menu, prices, expected attendance, and any policy updates.
• Set up the bar with the Barback: stock beverages, ice, cups, and supplies, and confirm cold drinks are cold and warm drinks are warm.
• Confirm the POS device is charged, working, and ready for card and mobile payments.
• Make sure required signage (such as age and ID requirements) is posted and visible.

May include other duties as they arise assigned by the Executive Director of the Gardens or Nightly Event Manager
During the Event:

• Check valid photo identification and verify that each guest is 21 or older before serving alcohol, following the event’s ID-check procedures.
• Refuse service politely but firmly to anyone who is underage, cannot show valid ID, or appears intoxicated, and report refused service and any concerns to the Nightly Event Manager.
• Pour and serve alcoholic beverages from the event menu accurately, following standard pour sizes and any per-guest purchase limits.
• Process sales on the POS system (cashless: card and mobile payments only), and operate POS devices with care.
• Watch for signs of intoxication and for adults passing drinks to minors, and take action according to event procedures.
• Remind guests that alcoholic drinks must stay within the event grounds and be finished or discarded before exiting.
• Greet guests warmly, keep the line moving, and answer questions about the menu and the event.
• Keep the bar clean, organized, and safe; clean up spills and broken items promptly; and follow food-safety and sanitation procedures.
• Never consume alcohol while on duty, and keep all alcohol under control and in sight at all times.

Closing (After Guests Have Departed):

• Stop alcohol service at the designated last-call time.
• Close out the POS device and complete end-of-shift sales reports following established procedures.
• Count and record remaining inventory, and return all alcohol to locked, secured storage.
• Clean and sanitize the bar, equipment, and work space, and leave the bar stocked and devices charged for the next evening.
• Success in this role will be measured by safe and legal alcohol service with zero violations, guest satisfaction, accurate sales and inventory, efficient lines, and reliability.

Required education and experience:
[Indicate requirements that are job-related and consistent with business necessity]

Must be at least 21 years of age. Must pass a background check in accordance with college policy. Minimum of one (1) year of experience bartending or serving alcohol in a bar, restaurant, catering, or event setting. Knowledge of responsible alcohol service practices and North Carolina alcohol laws, including ID verification and refusal of service. Must complete responsible alcohol service training (such as the NC ABC Commission’s Responsible Alcohol Seller Program, TIPS, or ServSafe Alcohol) before starting work. Comfortable using point-of-sale (POS) technology and processing card and mobile payments accurately. Friendly, professional customer service skills, with the ability to stay calm and firm when refusing service or handling difficult situations. Strong commitment to safety and the ability to follow laws, policies, and procedures consistently. Dependable and punctual, with availability for Wednesday–Sunday evening shifts throughout the event season.

Preferred education and experience:
[Indicate requirements that are job-related and consistent with business necessity]

Current responsible alcohol service certification (e.g., TIPS, ServSafe Alcohol, or NC ABC Responsible Alcohol Seller Program). Bartending experience at large public events, festivals, or venues with high-volume service. Food handler or food safety certification (or willingness to obtain). CPR/First Aid certification (or willingness to obtain).

Does this position supervise? No