Dundas Cactus Festival working with city on three-part event idea
Dundas Cactus Festival organizers are planning a modified, three-part event this summer within loosening COVID-19 restrictions, with the theme Go Local!"
Festival president Steve Deighton said the tentative plan includes Cactus Festival LIVE!" a one-day, limited capacity outdoor event in Memorial Square with 13-hours of main stage entertainment, food and drink; a Go Local LIVE Music Series" from August 5 to 21 featuring more than 20 free performances in downtown Dundas; and Go Local, Shop Local" which involves distributing 2,500 curated Surprise and Delight" packages promoting small business partners with special offers the week prior to Cactus Festival.
We are reviewing this option (with the City of Hamilton's Special Events Advisory Team)," Deighton said of the one-day event proposal. Numbers and capacity to be determined and of course based upon public health conditions at the time of the event. All policies and procedures will be discussed and advertised prior to the event."
With the province now open to limited outdoor gatherings and festivals, the City of Hamilton is reviewing proposals for upcoming events under new rules. Exactly what the landscape will be in August is not yet clear.
According to information on the city's website, staff will consider events that take place in a fenced area, or that have a defined perimeter with controlled access, with a capacity limit of no more than 25 per cent of that controlled area.
Separate entrance and exit points have to be provided, along with a safety plan with measures to prevent and mitigate crowds.
City spokesperson Ava van Heerden said staff will resume reviewing Special Events Advisory Team applications, considering the current provincial reopening step - and the stage staff anticipate being in at the time the time requested for proposed events.
Staff will slowly start to approve events that may take place according to provincial regulations and work closely with event organizers to ensure all of the necessary health measures are part of the planning," van Heerden said.
She said staff are in contact with Cactus Festival organizers as they navigate outdoor gathering restrictions and apply for approval.
All events will be done within the current health guidelines in place at that time," van Heerden said.
The province entered step two of its current reopening plan on June 30, which permits outdoor social gatherings and organized public events up to 25 people, and outdoor fairs and festivals at 25 per cent capacity, with other restrictions.
This stage is expected to continue for at least 21 days, at which time the province could move into step three - depending on the status of COVID-19 infections and vaccinations.
Step three, which could be in place by August, apparently does yet not have specific numbers associated with it but suggests there could be larger size limits for indoor and outdoor gatherings.
Deighton said the one-day, limited attendance event within a controlled, licensed space would be a sit down guest experience with programming from 8 a.m. through to 9 p.m. on a main stage featuring family entertainment, community entertainment, local artists, food and beverage."
Deighton said the Go Local Live Music Series would feature local acoustic and vocal acts with up to three artists at each show.
He said plans are being made for all Go Local" components and details will be made public as organizers move closer to the start of each program.
Our main goal is to provide inclusive, fun, safe events over a longer period of time that all residents have an opportunity to enjoy, and support our community as it continues to reopen," Deighton said.
STORY BEHIND THE STORY: We wanted to learn more about how changing outdoor COVID-19 gathering and event rules might impact a 2021 Dundas Cactus Festival.