Sea Fair, Powell River’s longest running summer festival, is in jeopardy and may not go ahead this year, according to one of its organizers.
Jenny Garden, Powell River Sea Fair Society president, said financial and volunteer challenges continue to plague the weekend-long event, which has been a cornerstone in Powell River for the last 53 years.
“Last year was a huge struggle,” said Garden.
To make matters worse, organizers recently learned the festival was unable to secure its midway carnival this year. Langley-based Westcoast Amusements, which had been booked for this summer’s festival, backed out on its summer booking after the death of its president.
“There’s another company that does do carnivals, the company that used to come to Sea Fair, but they are pretty booked by now,” said Garden.
The company, Shooting Star Amusements, may be available to come to town for the last weekend of June, she added.
That would mean bumping the festival up by a month, just to have a midway, and while that may be an option Garden said she is not convinced it would solve all of Sea Fair’s problems.
An ongoing issue is the festival has not been attracting enough volunteers to help plan and carry out the festival. The ones they do have are burning out, she said. The festival requires approximately 100 volunteers to operate and has an estimated attendance of 5,000.
Also, the Sea Fair society treasurer recently stepped down and the fishing derby director has said he would like to take a break, said Garden.
“People aren’t expected to do this for the rest of their lives, but there’s no one to replace this person,” she said.
Add to that, money troubles. “Sea Fair is broke,” said Garden.
2016 Sea Fair costs are projected at $52,000. Garden said the festival could be run for $45,000, but that would be without any extras. The festival’s fireworks alone cost $13,000, she said.
Annual contributions are expected from the provincial and federal governments, cash and in-kind funding from local governments and community donations. The remainder of the budget comes from revenue generated by the carnival and vendors.
Garden explained Sea Fair has been receiving grants-in-aid from the City of Powell River, but the $2,500 they have been given annually covers only a small part of its cost.
City of Powell River councillor CaroleAnn Leishman said the city is aware the festival is having tough times.
“Council wants to work on trying to make a success of this longstanding event,” said Leishman. “No one wants to see it go by the wayside.”
Leishman added the Sea Fair committee has not approached council to request additional funding this year, but it has encouraged Garden to do so.
When Garden heard there was community interest in reviving logger sports this summer, she thought a partnership could be mutually beneficial for both Willingdon Beach events. Both require vendors, 24-hour security, insurance to operate, among other efficiencies, she said.
Members of the Sea Fair committee brought the idea of working together to a logger sports meeting on Thursday, December 3, but were turned down. “I’m feeling pretty demoralized now,” said Garden.
Bob Marquis, who is helping to bring together the committee to organize logger sports again this year, suggested the Sea Fair committee look at other potential partnerships, such as Kathaumixw.
“It’s not that I or anybody wants to keep it separate; it’s always been separate,” said Marquis. “[Garden] was told by many people at the meeting that they were there for logger sports and Sea Fair is another entity.”
Now Garden is considering the idea of changing the frequency of Sea Fair.
Garden said because the summer is becoming increasingly packed with events, and volunteers and funds are stretched thin, it may be a good idea to alternate Sea Fair with Kathaumixw, which happens every second year.
“I know people want to see Sea Fair stay,” she said, “but it’s a real big challenge.”
The Sea Fair society board is meeting on Thursday, December 17 to decide the festival’s fate.
