‘What pandemic?’: Feeling normal again at the Cactus Festival

Highways are back to being jam-packed, and even busier during the weekends.

So was the route to King Street in Dundas Saturday, as the Cactus Festival returned to its full pre-pandemic form with over 100 vendors spreading out their stalls across the small town street.

Steve Deighton, president of the festival organizing committee, told The Spectator, that vendors were selling their food and services, and people are celebrating as they would have in 2019."

Friday night - the beginning of the three-day fest - was the best night in my memory over the past 16 years," Deighton said.

The classic Canadian summer experience with great weather, great music," and tons of activities" for kids and families sure felt like back-in-the-days of 2019.

In Deighton's opinion, the turnout was 100 per cent" a sign of people getting back to normal after the pandemic.

But is the COVID-19 pandemic really over?

The simple answer is no.

For most people, COVID-19 has become something that we have to learn how to live through it and with it," said Rene Alfaro, owner of the Toronto-based Mis Amigos Catering.

Alfaro, a first-time vendor at the fest, was happy to see the beautiful long lineups" outside his Latin American cuisine stall, seeing people turn up as they used to before.

Although, he knows the pandemic is not over, It's not going to be over any time sooner," Alfaro said. ... But we cannot keep going in a vicious circle. We need to get the economy going."

Dr. Dominik Mertz, medical director of infection prevention at Hamilton Health Sciences, said it became clear over the last two years how (the infection) spreads ... and that it will probably never disappear."

Then the question is: how do we live with it moving forward?" he said. That's what we're trying to figure out."

While the COVID-19 transmission status in Hamilton is plateauing, the infection rate is steady. The average number of COVID cases was 77 on Aug. 14, according to the latest city report.

Kerry, a 68-year-old Dundas resident, was walking away from the crowd on the sidewalk Saturday during the fest, enjoying the view of local vendors and people from a distance.

He told The Spectator he has been visiting the Cactus Fest for over 25 years.

If not now, then when?" he answered when asked about the risks of the pandemic. Kerry explained he has taken all precautionary measures, and is fully vaccinated with two booster shots.

He added he has his mask with him, in case I'm in close quarters with anyone."

Compared to the summer of 2020, Mertz said, People have had vaccines now, and they know that they're much better protected than in the early days."

He said there is an entire spectrum of behaviours and risk perceptions out there," with some not feeling comfortable leaving the house, and others who don't think about COVID at all.

People's interaction with infection and vaccines over time has reduced their fear from the infection," he said.

Neil Sadler, a hot sauce vendor at the fest thinks the pandemic was over long ago.

What pandemic?" Sadler - who owns Brantford-based Neil's Real Deal - said jokingly.

He said he noticed only one person wearing a mask at the fest Saturday morning, adding, everyone needs to do what they're comfortable doing."

Mertz noted regardless of how the summer passes, there is a likelihood of a spike again in the fall, going into the respiratory virus season."

For that, Mertz said, we are prepared."

In his opinion, the wide availability of booster shots and bivalent vaccines would continue to keep the transmission in control.

Jackie and Paul Roe were out at the fest with their three kids. Both school teachers and residents of Dundas, Jackie told The Spectator, they drove down from their cottage just for the fest" - also the first time for the kids.

The family felt comfortable being outdoors among people. However, in the coming fall, when the cases are likely to go up, Jackie said the family would cut down on restaurants, but it's (a fall wave) not going to slow us down too much."

She added her kids are still registered in events and activities for the fall," and that she doesn't plan on cancelling them.

Ritika Dubey is a reporter at The Spectator. rdubey@thespec.com