After a cool and unsettled spring, B.C. will get its first taste of the newly ushered in summer season with a significant warm-up on the weekend. Saturday you’ll notice the warmer temperatures, but Sunday is the first day temperatures spill into the lower 30s across inland sections. However, the forthcoming warmth may have complications for the ongoing flood threat in B.C. For more details, read on.
THIS WEEKEND: SOUTH COAST SEES ITS FIRST TASTE OF SUMMER AS TEMPERATURES CLIMB
An offshore flow will allow temperatures to reach the mid-to-upper 20s along the South Coast, possibly reaching the 30-degree mark for downtown Vancouver, and into at least the low-to- mid-30s for some inland locations, including the Fraser and the Okanogan valleys.
The sudden uptick in temperatures could accelerate the snowmelt, which has been delayed, potentially leading to flooding in parts of the province, similar to what Kelowna saw this month. Numerous flood watches and high streamflow advisories are in place.
Temperatures will remain warm through early next week, but keep it mind, that this heat is nothing like the heat dome of 2021.
In fact, morning temperatures last June were significantly warmer and more humid than our forecast highs next week across the province.
As of now, next Sunday and Monday are a tossup in terms of the warmest day of this heat event, before more of an onshore flow develops by Tuesday, June 28.
Stay tuned to The Weather Network for the latest forecast updates for B.C.
BC’s Most Popular Beer Event Returns to PNE Fairgrounds July 9th & 10th
It was back in 2010 that Vancouver Craft Beer Week first took the Lower Mainland beer community by storm. As the years passed, the crown jewel of the Week solidified as VCBW Festival, which grew to become one of the larger beer events in Canada.
After a two year hiatus, the Fest if back! This year’s event will be held on Saturday, July 9th & Sunday July 10th, 2022.
What’s new? For one thing, after ten years of producing Vancouver Craft Beer Week, the original festival organizers have stepped back and a new event production company is marking its debut VCBW Fest.
Also, there are a number of ways that the event planned for 2022 has grown over the past year of planning. We connected with new Festival organizer Adam Bloch—veteran producer of Hopscotch Festival since 2006—for a peek at what it was like to manage VCBW’s transition, and what’s coming in July. Spoiler: more than we thought.
Q & A WITH ADAM BLOCH OF VANCOUVER CRAFT BEER WEEK AND FEASTER
Adam Bloch
Q: After two missed years, this year’s event will be the 11th annual VCBW Festival. How are preparations coming along; any major snags so far, and are you getting much sleep?
As you know, during the pandemic VCBW changed management and we, the new team, are producing this event for the first time.
Preparation is coming along better than we ever expected. When doing anything of this nature for the first time, everything is a learning experience. Learning about the culture of the community, the history of this event, what people loved, what they didn’t and so on has been a trip. But now, 12+ months into planning, the Festival is quickly approaching and we have put together such an incredible event.
There have been no major snags; just an immense number of hurdles and challenges, but that was expected. What we do as producers is literally making sure the train follows the tracks, and when challenges arise along the journey, we figure out solutions. As for sleep, I think I got some in, like, April?
Q: You’ve been working directly with management partner Dax Droski of Parade Agency for five years now. Was VCBW ultimately the catalyst for formalizing your new umbrella events company, FEASTER?
FEASTER is an amalgamation of so many trusted events within BC. We specialize in liquid-to-lips, which is the way beverage companies market their products—by having people sample and learn about them.
Our events (Hopscotch Festival, The Cup, Harvest Haus, VCBW and several others) have all been around for so many years (Hopscotch turns 27 this year!), and FEASTER was created to have a trusted brand that overlooks all of them. FEASTER also produces other projects that are not events, but based in the same space, such as Beer Box.
FEASTER’s Events Lineup
Q: The craft beer community learned about the change in VCBW management back in June 2021, at which point there seemed to be no end to the pandemic in sight. How did it feel to invest in an event while there was no guarantee it would be able to take place?
If I were to explain the emotional rollercoaster of being an event producer during the pandemic, it wouldn’t be too enjoyable of an interview to read. As it was extremely difficult to be in the event game during the pandemic, some events ceased to exist and some companies went out of business.
A year into the pandemic, there was hope we’d be able to bring events back to the people. It was slim, but it was there. We knew that if we didn’t plan for the events but were then permitted to produce them, there’d be no chance to catch up, as each event takes over six months to plan. So, we worked on events for the entire second year of the pandemic, with nothing to show for it.It was basically being on a hamster wheel with endless amounts of work, and no ability to complete it. I don’t wish that on anyone.
Q: Given that you have an events background, there might naturally be an impulse to rework your first VCBW a bit in the vein of what you’ve previously done. How much have you tried to retain the essence of prior VCBW Festivals?
In the case of VCBW, the former management team did a fantastic job but they were ready to move on to other things. We had known them since before VCBW started, and had watched them grow it during the 2010s, which they did so well. When they approached us to take it over, we were excited to do so, but needed to decide what we could bring to this event to make it even better than it was.
And after several weeks of strategizing and brainstorming, we figured we would continue producing VCBW as the amazing craft beer festival that it has been, but hybrid it into a small music festival as well. By doing so, we felt it would open its gates to such a larger demographic of beer drinkers, as now it would no longer be just for the beer–obsessed. By doing so, we took the first step to reaching our goal of turning VCBW into one of the largest craft beer festivals in the world, and making it an anchor event of the Vancouver landscape.
Q: Fortunately at this point it looks like the waves of COVID have subsided. Have you started to breathe easier about that aspect yet?
I think we are all permanently scarred by the rise and fall and rise and fall and rise and fall of COVID. Thankfully numbers are low now and have stayed low. We are not too worried about it with respect to VCBW as it is held outside during summertime, with lots of space. At the end of the day, safety is most important to everything we (as people) do and must thus take precedence.
Q: You folks recently mentioned that regular two-day passes had sold out, but you then decided to re-release a limited amount of them for sale keeping the lower tier price of $49. That seems like a great deal while it lasts. Given that this is only $9 more than a Saturday standalone ticket was selling for, is this economically feasible for you?
Nope. Everything we are doing (low prices, ridiculous stupid low priced 2-day passes) is an investment into the future of this event. We are aiming for 15,000 attendees (and on track to get there) and have kept the prices low to incentivize people to come check out this event. We know that if everyone takes a chance on us, they will be hooked. Everything about this event—the breweries, the bands, the food, the production—is on an entirely new level this year.
At the time of writing, we are about to sell out of the 2-day VIP tickets so if you are looking for those, I would jump on it now as they won’t be re-released.
Q: We notice that Sunday tickets are offered at a lower price than Saturday. Another good deal. Is that helping balance out the sales for the two days?
Tickets are released in tiers for most of our events. The earlier you purchase, the better price you are going to receive. Sunday tickets are selling exceptionally well, but Saturday will forever be the best day of the week for ticket sales.
Q: Under the previous management, VCBW had spawned some satellite events, not only during the original Week but during other times of the year. Did any of that come up during planning?
Because of how big of an endeavour we are taking on with VCBW, we made the decision to hold off on Satellite Events and focus all our energy into making sure the large weekend is at 110%.
Q: This year, VCBW will be leveraging technology to go cashless. Which events have you used the RFID wristbands at before? What are the bugs that you had to work out?
Ask me the same question after VCBW and I will have an answer for you, LOL! This is our first time doing it, but we have worked endlessly with the company that is behind it. They will have a massive team onsite making sure it is running perfectly. We are SO excited to implement this into VCBW this year.
Q: At this point, can you still use more volunteers for VCBW Fest?
Q: What are you personally looking forward to most at this year’s event? Do you have a favourite band you’re looking forward to hearing?
I could give you a list of 100 things. I’ll give you the top 5.
1) The event itself: SOOOOO many people have worked SOOOO hard to get this show off the ground. I can’t wait to see all of our work be put together into one seamless work of art.
2) Half Moon Run (band): HMR has such an incredible sound and vibe and they are going to crush it this year at VCBW. Really excited to see them for the first time.
3) The Beer + Cider: The quality of the beer is amazing this year. Working with all of the breweries has been so enjoyable, and finding the best ones to bring into the show to make it the best experience for attendees has been great. I can’t wait to taste some of them (once the show is over).
4) The People: I can’t wait to people-watch.
5) The Food: The food this year is INSANE. Between the chef pop-ups and the food trucks, I am personally going to arrive starving so I can try as many vendors as possible. That said, I STRONGLY urge guests to eat before they drink to avoid intoxication. (Although our event is based around beer, intoxication isn’t allowed!)
Speaking of vendors: we couldn’t have put this event on with such affordable ticket prices without the help of our sponsors. I would really like to thank Go RVing for coming on as our Presenting Sponsor. Also, Stanley Park Brewing stepped up in a big way to sponsor the Sunsetter Stage.
To our other sponsors like Miles End Motors, Yeti, UBC Properties and Castillo Cheese… thank you. And lastly, I wanted to thank the BC Government for their Tourism and Recovery Grant. It has been a massive help for us to bring back this event in a whole new way, and with such a low cost to the attendees. Honestly, without all of the above, ticket prices would be $100 or more!
VCBW Craft Beer & Music Festival
Saturday, July 9th & Sunday July 10th, 2022 VIP Admission: 2:00 pm – 7:00 pm General Admission: 3:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Some festivals are going ahead this year, others are sitting out another year
Team U.K. puts on a show at the 2017 Honda Celebration of Light in Vancouver. The event will be going ahead this summer.Photo by Francis Georgian /PNG files
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For two years, public safety has taken precedence over public festivities. No matter the cultural or community importance, health measures came first.
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Now that public festivals and outdoor events have a green light to return to full capacity, some event organizers are gearing up. For others, the Feb. 16 lifting of restrictions on outdoor gatherings came too late.
Surrey’s annual Vaisakhi Parade, which was scheduled for April 14, was cancelled, in part due to the timing, said Moninder Singh, president of Gurdwara Sahib Dasmesh Darbar.
Families typically spend months preparing the delicious food that is provided free to the thousands of parade goers — it’s all part of sewa, which means selfless service — and they invest time and money to rent tents and make the fare.
“The public parade takes about one year of preparation in advance, and in the last four to five months we are booking things like traffic and fire safety plans, and making announcements, and that leads to families planning and creating booths,” said Singh. “In February, when we made the decision (to cancel), there was still too much uncertainty.”
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In addition, non-refundable deposits for private security would have to be paid in advance.
“There were still fears that potentially it might be delayed again, and as a charity and non profit, losing out on money that had come to us through donations didn’t seem responsible.”
Singh said the community has been supportive.
“The celebrations will continue in different ways,” said Singh.
The annual Vaisakhi Parade in Surrey in 2017.Photo by Jason Payne /PNG
Other community events that have long been part of the fabric of the city will return, including the Honda Celebration of Light.
“We are well into planning, and we will definitely be back,” said executive producer Paul Runnals. “We are delighted.”
Runnals said his team was carefully tracking events around the globe late last year when Omicron appeared, to figure out what might be possible.
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“We thought it would peak and subside, we knew vaccination rates were extremely high, and we had confidence that conditions would become much more favourable,” said Runnals.
The event will mark its 30th anniversary with a three-night spectacle July 23, 27 and 30, but pandemic-related challenges remain.
“There are some supply chain issues. A lot of people left the industry because they had to go make a living, so there is a staffing shortage. Some suppliers have gone out of business, and costs have gone up significantly for international shipping,” said Runnals.
Paul Runnals is the executive director of the Honda Celebration of Light, which is going ahead this summer.Photo by Jason Payne /PNG
Laura Ballance, spokesperson for a number of events, including the Canada Cup Women’s International Softball Championship, which will be held June 20–26 in Surrey, said the tournament will go ahead because international teams feel safe coming to Canada.
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“Internationally, our reputation for COVID safety is high,” said Ballance. “Many teams are saying we are only going to go to one international competition, and we are going to come to you.”
While some major events like the PNE are on, others have not yet confirmed whether they will happen this year and some, like the Cloverdale Rodeo, have cancelled.
Ballance said each event has to make the decision that is right for them, and for their attendees.
Karen Zukas, executive producer of the Fort Langley jazz festival.Photo by Francis Georgian /PNG
The Fort Langley Jazz & Arts Festival will be back with live indoor and outdoor events after two summers where festival producers had to hold virtual and hybrid events due to COVID restrictions.
“We are into full planning mode for a large in-person festival July 21-24,” said producer Karen Zukas. Uncertainty is something she has learned to work with, and expect.
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“We’ve learned to be flexible, we’ve learned to navigate, we’ve learned to be resilient and to forge ahead,” said Zukas. “We always have to have plan B, C and D.”
And there are new elements to the planning, including taking care of their audiences. “We want to make sure people feel safe, particularly at indoor events,” said Zukas.
“We are prepared to do whatever is necessary. Jazz fans are a little bit older typically, and their comfort level is a little lower. They may be more cautious, so they want practices and protocols to make sure they are safe, whatever that may be.”
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Indoor seated venues have been allowed to remain open during the Omicron wave in British Columbia – but since Dec. 21, they’ve had to maintain a 50 per cent capacity limit, and that’s been devastating for their bottom line.
“For us, it limits the revenue we can produce and the number of tickets we can sell for certain movies, and it was particularly harmful over the Christmas period,” said Bill Walker, CEO of Landmark Cinemas.
The Arts Club Theatre has also taken a large financial hit.
“Our finances are based on the capacity to sell up to 100 per cent, so it is a real strain on us to have the reduction,” said associate artistic director Rachel Peake.
Some concerts and festivals that were scheduled for early in 2022 have been postponed because of the capacity restriction.
“The 50 per cent model does not work financially, and we have seen that. Everything that was in the books was cancelled and cancelled and cancelled. So certainly tomorrow we are really hoping we will get the full capacity for indoor seated venues back,” said Paul Runnals with Brand Live Management.
With other provinces now starting to lift capacity restrictions, the live event industry is optimistic provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry will announce an end to the measure in B.C during a press conference Tuesday at 1:30 p.m.
“It would be difficult to imagine how the province doesn’t, as every other province has done just that,“ said Walker. “There are different nuances around masking and vaccines, but overall, every other province is moving back to full capacity, and so we expect B.C. will do the same.”
If that happens, Runnals says live event planners in B.C. are prepared to hit the ground running.
“Many in our sector are poised and ready to go, we are just waiting to get that certainty. And that’s really what we are looking for tomorrow is clarification and a timeline, and then we can take that away and get cracking on things,” he said.
The industry is less concerned if mask mandate and vaccine passport restrictions remain in place.
“We don’t find it to be that difficult or detrimental for us to manage, we are all used to it,” said Walker. Runnals thinks it would be smart to keep those measures in place for awhile longer, while lifting the indoor capacity restriction.
“I think the public are looking for the light at the end of the tunnel, and the confidence we will start seeing our major events coming back,” he said.
Peake agrees the demand is there, and is hopeful the Arts Club Theatre’s next stage show, “Kim’s Convenience,” will be allowed to offer all seats for sale.
“So that’s definitely the ideal scenario. That’s really what we are hoping for at this point,” she said.
The industry remains in the dark about what could be announced at Tuesday’s press conference.
“We have not heard any insights,” said Walker.” Every now and again we will get an advanced look at something; on this, we have no idea.”
With many live events — and livelihoods — now hanging in the balance, Runnals says everyone is anxiously awaiting word, adding: ”Lots of eyes are going to be watching that announcement tomorrow.”
