Dundas 'Cactus Festival LIVE!' details under review by city staff

City of Hamilton staff are reviewing an application to close Memorial Square in Dundas between Hatt and King streets for Cactus Festival LIVE!" on Saturday, Aug. 21.

The one-day outdoor limited capacity event, with exact times to be confirmed, is part of an altered Cactus Festival event plan under COVID-19 restrictions. Smaller music performances are also being held under the banner Go Local LIVE."

Updates are available at dundascactusfestival.ca and twitter.com/CactusFest.

Under current provincial restrictions, the city can approve outdoor festivals and fairs with a capacity limit of 75 per cent within a fenced area with controlled access. Event organizers must provide a site plan identifying the physical space available and proposed capacity, and a safety plan with measures to prevent and mitigate crowds. Regulations and processes have been changing quickly over the past couple of months.

Cactus Festival president Steve Deighton said on Aug. 10 that the organizing committee was waiting for final city special events advisory team (SEAT) approval of the Aug. 21 event details.

Talent for Saturday Aug. 21 is being updated and uploaded on the web this week," Deighton said. Should be a great day, pending SEAT approval."

City spokesperson Ava van Heerden said provincial guidelines under the Reopening Ontario Act also require organizers to complete a COVID-19 response plan, which is reviewed by the city's infection prevention and control team.

She said on Monday, Aug. 9, city staff were reviewing the Cactus Festival application to close Memorial Square on Aug. 21.