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Organizers want to make this year's Lighthouse Blues Festival bigger and better By Liz Dadson |
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Brad Kirkconnell brought an update to the Kincardine Business Improvement Area (BIA) at its meeting last week. He said the first festival had one stage in the Bruce Steakhouse parking lot, a budget of $10,000 and attracted 500 fans over two days.Last year, the event had two stages, a budget of $20,000 and attracted 800 fans. This year, the third annual Lighthouse Blues Festival will be held July 13-14, right after the Kincardine Scottish Festival. It will have four stages, a budget of $40,000 and organizers hope to attract 2,000-plus fans. "We want to include the downtown merchants in this event," said Kirkconnell. "We hope some merchants will sponsor the bands playing in front of their stores. That's what's done at the Port Credit 'South Side Shuffle,' and we want to model ours after that." The festival will feature a street market in the downtown, an outdoor art exhibit and interactive art zone, a children's art experience, expanded youth showcase on all four stages, and broader advertising promotion beyond the 150-kilometre radius from the local community. "Our goal is to have the Lighthouse Blues Festival firmly established as the major regional festival and tourist attraction every year in Bruce County," said Kirkconnell. He noted one stage will be in the area of the CIBC bank, another will be in front of the library, a third one along Durham Market South, and another at Queen's Lookout. "We have one key partner helping us out," said Kirkconnell. "The Kincardine Lions Club is working with us to support its cause which is expansion of the playground, with a Splash Pad, at Lions Park in front of the Davidson Centre. That's a $1-million project." Last year, the festival was in support of the revitalization project at the Davidson Centre. "We raised $4,000 for that," said Kirkconnell. "This year, our charity of choice is the Lions Club." He said festival organizers are excited to move the event into the downtown area, and would like to work with the BIA on this cross-promotion event. "We're looking for financial sponsorship," he said. "We would run the festival in the downtown and bring the crowd to the downtown." Organizers are also asking for a letter of support from the BIA to take to Kincardine council when they make this presentation in February. "Last year, the BIA gave us $500," said Kirkconnell. "This year, we're asking for a sponsorship of $2,000."
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He said the festival will be the third weekend in a row of special events in Kincardine, beginning with Canada Day, then the Kincardine Scottish Festival, followed by the Lighthouse Blues Festival. Steve Murray, Kincardine community services co-ordinator, asked Kirkconnell if there is an alternate location for the event in case it rains. "It never rains," said Kirkconnell. Murray suggested the festival committee attain liability insurance for use of the public street. "I'll take that back to the committee," said Kirkconnell. "How does the insurance work for other street events?" asked deputy mayor Anne Eadie. "The BIA is a committee of council, so it is covered under the municipality's liability insurance," said Murray. "The Lions Club should have what is required." "I think this is a great idea," said BIA president Cheryl Goetz. Margriet Van Erp, BIA member, agreed, saying the Victoria Park Gallery has applied for a grant which includes $2,500 for promotion. A portion of that could be used for this event to promote the art zone and art exhibit. The BIA thanked Kirkconnell for his presentation and will consider the festival's financial request. Scrolling stops when you move your mouse inside the scroll area. You can click on the ads for more
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 for
world news,
books, sports, movies ...Tuesday, January 24, 2012 |
Organizers of the 2012 Kincardine Lighthouse Blues Festival want to
maintain the quality of this small and successful event, but make it
bigger and better.
