Kakabeka might be a little quieter this summer as its annual street fair is in jeopardy.
The third weekend in August usually finds the small community bustling with a midway, vendors and a large celebration as up to 30,000 people line both sides of the highway to take it all in.
Marlis Bommes-Dudzinski has been organizing the fair for the past 15 years.
The Kakabeka Falls Motor Hotel owner announced last year that she wouldn’t be organizing it anymore to spend more time with family, including her grandchildren.
“They’re only little for so long,” she said.
With no one stepping up to replace her, and the festival only a few months away, Bommes-Dudzinski said she’s doubtful that there would be enough time to get everything ready.
From security to booking bands the festival takes a lot of preparation.
“It usually starts right after the last street fair,” she said. “Usually by now this time of year everything’s pretty close to being organized.”
What started as a small celebration turned into an international event over the years. Bommes-Dudzinski said she and four other business owners started the festival to promote their community and bring more people to it.
“It would be too bad,” she said if the fair doesn’t return. “I would be really really sad.”
Oliver Paipoonge mayor Lucy Kloosterhuis said the fair is privately run by the Kakabeka Business Association but she has heard rumours that the fair might not continue. It would be a shame to see the fair go as it brings a lot of people into the community.
While she’s still hoping someone might take the fair on, Kloosterhuis wonders if it might be too late to start organizing it this year.
There have been no applications to the municipality for alcohol or street closure permits for the fair.
