This year's Sea Cavalcade was once again marred by drunken partiers who brought an early end to the family street dance in Gibsons on July 23.
"Liquor-fueled fights were breaking out during the event amongst intoxicated youths and young adults, with the offenders taking no regard for families with young children around them," said Sunshine Coast RCMP Cpl. Steve Chubey. "As a result, police arrested 16 people and handed out several violation tickets for liquor infractions, which included public intoxication, consuming liquor by a minor and consuming liquor in public."
Chubey said once the street dance ended and crowds dispersed, several more fights broke out, tying up RCMP resources well past midnight.
"Year after year, Sea Cavalcade has been tarnished by groups of youths and young adults from all areas of the Coast who choose to use this family-centred festival as an excuse to drink to inebriation, fight and cause problems for the police, business owners, families and good people trying to have a good time," Chubey said.
Sea Cavalcade Society chair Con-chita Harding said volunteers worked hard to ensure no one brought alcohol or drugs into the street dance, which was advertised as a zero tolerance event.
Volunteers manned all entrances to the dance on Gower Point Road, checking backpacks and bottles of pop for traces of liquor or illegal substances.
Harding said only one bottle of pop was confiscated after it was evident liquor had been added to it, and no other liquor was found by volunteers.
The problem, she said, was people coming to the event already intoxicated.
"I'm ashamed to hear that some adults came under the influence of alcohol," said Harding. "They don't come with alcohol in their pockets, but they do come after they've been drinking and they should know better and be responsible for their actions. That's something that I was really surprised about."
Harding said the drunken adults came to the street dance from local bars and private cocktail parties, which she notes volunteers have no control over.
Chubey said the adults arrested that night ranged in age from 19 to 21, but said many youth were also arrested for public intoxication.
"We keep telling people we have zero tolerance, but the people somehow seem to ignore that," Harding added. "We need the parents to help us, and if the parents of teenagers are not going to help, then for sure the street dance will be cancelled."
Gibsons Mayor Barry Janyk was surprised to hear young adults were a problem at this year's street dance, saying "there is no excuse" for their actions.
As for the teens who were causing trouble, Janyk said, "It seems to be a symptom of poor parenting."
"I don't blame the kids. I keep saying these parents need to keep a rein on their children because you give them an inch and they'll take the full nine yards," Janyk said.
Janyk felt the Sea Cavalcade committee was better prepared for the street dance this year, but notes there is still room for improvement. What's missing, he said, is more community involvement to make sure the event runs smoothly.
"It's all about the amount of community horsepower that we've got," he said.
Harding agrees.
"It's not just my Sea Cavalcade, it's our Sea Cavalcade. And each and every one of us is responsible to have a festival that is a fun and safe family festival," she said.
This year marked the 43rd annual Sea Cavalcade event in Gibsons.
