Beer, wine and BBQ festival wants to come to Burlington

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Published November 29, 2023 at 10:30 am

An event that promotes beer, wine and barbecued food is just one of the new festivals that want to put down roots in Burlington.

With two weekend vacancies now open at Spencer Smith Park due to the ouster of the Burlington Food Truck Festival and the departure of the Children’s Festival, several groups have stepped forward in attempts to fill the void as early as next summer.

The Beer, Bubbles and BBQ festival proposes a celebration of beer, sparkling wine and barbecued food in a ticketed event that will encourage patrons to dress in pink or white clothing. A vendor market, live music and a fashion show would be included.

Other festivals vying for space at the park, so far, are:

  • Without Words Festival — an event that includes artistic, cultural, and gastronomic activities that focus on entrepreneurship in the deaf community. Musical guests will perform on stage with sign language interpreters. A water and foam show will be included along with a live DJ and electronic music.
  • Burlington Latin Festival — a two-day event featuring Latin/Hispanic culture with music, vendors, food, dance, exhibitions, arts & crafts and activities for all ages.
  • Burlington Veg Fest — which has been operating out of Burloak Park for the past two years. This festival has a vegetarian and vegan theme with food and retail vendors, information booths, music, speakers, and activities for children.
  • Craft Live Waterfront Fete — a festival of Black African and Caribbean-Canadian culture with performing artists, food and retail vendors. This has previously been held at both Civic Square and Central Park.
  • PSP Awareness Walk and Roll — a charitable fundraiser for the Progressive Supranuclear Palsy.

A committee report that will go before City councillors points out that Spencer Smith Park is a popular landing spot for festival organizers because of its size and setting. However, events can have an impact on surrounding neighbourhoods, particularly on nearby businesses. Recently, organizers of the food truck festival were not welcomed back to the lakeside park to due complaints that it was taking customers away from downtown restaurants.

The report recommends not approving new festivals until criteria and protocols are developed to determine how the event selection process should proceed.

 

 

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