Sechelt was alive with activity last weekend. And by the time you read this, it will be hopping again this weekend.
Sechelt played host to the inaugural Family Arts Festival on the August long weekend. Hackett Park was filled with music, games and laughter. People came to the park with their lawn chairs and quietly bee-bopped to the tunes. Children enjoyed games, face painting and cotton candy - the perfect way to spend a summer weekend on the Coast.
This festival, like so many on the Sunshine Coast, is due to the tireless efforts of many volunteers and sponsors. They, along with all who attended, made for a great first festival.
But while we were in the park enjoying the event and snapping photos, we heard a few troubling comments from some nay-sayers.
The comments included: "Why do so many sponsors shell out money for this new festival without supporting existing events?" and "Where is our piece of the pie?"
We really don't know why these comments were made. All the events on the Sunshine Coast seem to be well supported by sponsorship money and volunteers.
The Sechelt Family Arts Festival was a first-time event and was fantastic. There is certainly enough room for another event. What's wrong with having family events every weekend during the summer?
The last time we checked, there really was nothing planned for the August long weekend until this event came along.
Instead of blasting the hand that feeds you, let's embrace the event and work together.
Gibsons just pulled off another great Sea Cavalcade. The Coaster's Car Club and Drag Racing Association is in full gear this weekend with the annual summer drags, rod run and Show and Shine, and don't forget the Arts Council's annual Craft Fair in Hackett Park this weekend. Next week we have the Festival of the Written Arts, and in two weeks, the Fibre Arts Festival in Gibsons and Creek Daze in Roberts Creek.
Summer is the time for festivals. They draw in much-needed tourism dollars and revenue into this community and give local families endless choices to celebrate in their own communities.
When you're out in the community in the next couple of weeks, try to remember to thank the businesses and volunteers who bring us these events. The Sunshine Coast is a great place to live, and these events go a long way to enhance this wonderful place.
