A revival of the Kakabeka Street Fair will have to wait until 2015.
Citing logistical challenges, the Kakabeka Falls and Rural District Royal Canadian Legion has decided to pass on hosting a proposed event on their property in August.
Legion secretary Ken Milenko said talks about hosting a fair only began in January and it was decided at a Saturday meeting that they would not be able to properly address the issues surrounding hosting an event in time.
Instead, the Legion is looking ahead to holding the inaugural Kakabeka Family Fun Fair next year.
“We don’t think there’s enough time to be able to do this by Aug. 15 so we’re going to pass on the event this summer,” Milenko said.
“Our plan this summer is to get everything in place (for next year).”
Some of the issues Milenko listed included finalizing the budget, enlisting volunteer support and preparing the property.
It would also take time to properly map out the grounds, assign designated locations for vendors, entertainment and activities.
The street fair, which annually attracted as many as 30,000, was axed last year after former organizer Marlis Bommes-Dudzinski decided to step back and retire from her duties with the event.
The Legion held a public meeting on March 8 to collect feedback about bringing back the event.
More than 60 people attended the meeting and, apart from their dates overlapping with the Murillo Fall Fair, the proposal was met with a favourable response.
“We have a lot of people asking us and telling us that it’s a great thing and we should be doing it,” Milenko said.
“There’s a great desire in the community and the general public. People attended this fair from all over, they came as far as from California and Florida.”
It will just take one year longer.
