A record number of attendees came to the 49th annual Sea Cavalcade in Gibsons July 28 to 30, and although some complaints were lodged with the organizing committee, overall the three-day event was “excellent,” according to organizer Conchita Harding.
Harding said that at times crowds in excess of 3,000 flocked to the streets of upper and lower Gibsons to enjoy free festivities like the multicultural parade, a dinner and picnic in Winegarden Park, the kids’ fishing derby, the classic car display, a fireworks display, races by land and sea and family day in Gibsons Landing, complete with live entertainment, crafts, vendors and educational booths.
There were also four sold-out shows of Nomadic Tempest, a travelling Caravan Stage Company production aboard a tall ship moored in Gibsons Harbour.
Nomadic Tempest was a source of some of the complaints Harding heard verbally and by email during Sea Cav.
Some said the show, focused on the demise of the planet if people don’t change their ways, was dark and scary for children, too preachy and focused on doom and gloom. Others praised the show’s creativity and message and applauded the organizers for having it as part of Sea Cav.
“Like everything, you get some good reviews and some bad reviews. We can not please everybody, unfortunately,” Harding said.
The other cause of some complaints during Sea Cav was the closure of the highway on Saturday for the Sea Cavalcade Mile Run and the parade. The run had a record 159 participants this year.
“Our permit from the Ministry of Highways was for 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. However, it’s only once a year – and guess what? We opened the highway at 12:08 p.m.,” Harding said.
Despite the criticisms, Harding heard a lot of positive feedback too, especially about the family-focused events and the addition of a beer garden this year.
The record number of attendees and the addition of alcohol wasn’t a problem, Harding said, noting the RCMP didn’t have to respond to “even one incident” during the three-day event.
While still returning rentals and paying invoices from this year’s Sea Cav, Harding is already thinking about next year, which will be the event’s 50th anniversary.
“Some of the ideas that have been coming in are really amazing, out of this world,” she said.
“We’ll start really planning the first week of November.”
If you would like to get involved, or want to see the Sea Cavalcade Mile race results or a drone video of the Keats to Armours swim, go to www.seacavalcade.ca.
Harding thanks all the volunteers who helped make this year’s event a success, as well as the sponsors who helped keep costs down and the crowds who came out and enjoyed, responsibly.
See more photos from the event in our online galleries at www.coastreporter.net
