Provincial letter gives hope for summer events this year

The letter hints when venues can open and fans can return.

The proposed outline also has the potential timing for the return of fans.

Dr. Hinshaw writes, April and early May, there will be no in-person fans allowed.

In late May, 15 percent of fixed seating capacity, up to 100 people outside could be allowed.

By late June, that jumps to 50 percent or up to 500 people outside. It would be 15 percent of 100 people inside.

And by late July, Dr. Hinshaw anticipates no restrictions.

This is something Medicine Hat Stampede says gives them hope.

“I think regardless we’ll see something this summer,” Stampede GM Kara Brake said. “So that might mean more drive-thru events. It might mean lower capacity events, things like that. But we are really aiming to be able to do something this summer.”

Brake says the board has a meeting at the beginning of May and they will have some big discussions as to what summer might look like and how they can plan.

“We know that Medicine Hat has been really supportive of the Stampede so we’re looking forward to being able to do something for the community and getting people out and having some fun in the summer and the warm weather and get people together as safely as we can,” Brake added.

The same goes for the midway, as the fair rides come from West Coast Amusements in B.C.

“We’re waiting to hear if they’re going to continue to go, if they can get the entire route or if they’ll still come to Medicine Hat if they can do something,” Brake said. “Again we’re not sure if that’s going to be a full-blown midway or if it’s going to be reduced capacity with more sanitization and stuff like that.”

Meantime, Medicine Hat Jazz Fest is planned for the end of June. (June 21-27}

After cancelling last year completely, the festival is a go for the 25^th year.

Executive & Artistic Director Lyle Rebbeck says it will be fully online plus some live events if they can.

“Is it ideal, is it the best, is it what we want? Maybe not, but is it bringing people together in a community? Absolutely it is,” Rebbeck told Chat News.

Rebbeck says he’s thankful for Dr. Hinshaw’s letter, but as an organizer, he has to find the balance between hope and realism.

“We appreciate that hopefulness and that projection, and we’re certainly open if we come into June and we are there and things are opening up that we can add some events,” he added.

Quonset Days is looking at this timeline as a best-case scenario says general manager Trevor Biemens.

The live country music festival is planned for the end of July. The festival was postponed last year.

“It’s hard to really gauge what’s going to happen between now and then. So for us personally, I think we’re going to wait a little longer. At least until the middle to end of May to see how the numbers are going,” Biemans said.

Like many music festival events including Quonset Days and Jazz Fest…travel across the boarder for artists is one of the complexities of planning.

“Even if they’re Canadian artists if they’re living in the United States, they still have to come to Canada and quarantine for the two weeks,” Biemens explained. “Unless they have a tour lined up in this area, it really doesn’t become feasible for them.”

As for the letter, Alberta Health confirms no final decisions have been made.

In the meantime, event organizers say they’re keeping optimistic for summer events to return this year.

by Chantal Wagner

Provincial letter gives hope for summer events this year

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