The show must go on. It’s the old adage often used by event organizers when plans go awry, and it is something Powell River Sea Fair Society board members should remember when considering the cancellation of the annual summer fair.
According to society president Jenny Garden, Sea Fair may be cancelled this year due to problems with funding and volunteer retention. The news comes after Garden found out the company that supplies the midway rides for the festival in July had to back out.
However, fair rides are just part of the festival, and Sea Fair could continue without them. In fact, without rides families would have more money to spend on vendors and food, and the focus would be on local entertainment and activities.
Of course it wouldn’t be quite the same without rides, but live entertainment and the additional activities planned for the festival should be enough.
Garden also attempted to partner with organizers of the recently revamped
logger sports, who also plan to hold their event in July. Logger sports organizer Bob Marquis told Garden she should consider partnering with another summer festival, such as International Choral Kathaumixw.
Just because things have been a certain way in the past does not mean that changes cannot be made to combine events and bring the community together.
A Sea Fair and logger sports partnership could have made for a stellar weekend in July, instead event organizers are not able to work together, and that is a shame.
Garden also claims that Sea Fair is having financial troubles and fireworks alone cost $13,000. Sea Fair should not hinge on a single portion of the festival. Event organizers should work to come up with interesting new ideas for the festival, rather than relying on what’s been done in the past.
Powell River is a community that has always supported local events and found a way to make the best of every situation. Sea Fair has been running for more than 50 years.
Instead of giving up on Sea Fair, organizers should focus on carrying on with the event and doing the best they can given the circumstances.
Despite a busy festival season this summer, it just wouldn’t be the same without Sea Fair. There has to be a way to salvage it.
After all, the show must go on.
