Why can’t all of the groups in town co-ordinate their events so that none of them fall on the same day? And why can’t Ashcroft and Cache Creek groups co-ordinate their events so that they don’t conflict? And why can’t Ashcroft, Cache Creek, Clinton and Lytton groups co-ordinate their activities...
I attended a regional tourism strategy meeting last week where one individual was proposing to have all of the activities in Gold Country communities co-ordinated so that no two events fell on the same day. It didn’t go too far at the meeting, but I hear the same complaint expressed by dozens of people every time there are two (or more) events held on the same day.
Now, having sat on a few event-planning meetings over the years, in Ashcroft, Cache Creek and elsewhere, I can say firstly, that volunteers put an enormous amount of their own time, brainpower and often money to get a community event off the ground. Of course you knew that, but it’s hard to appreciate exactly how much effort it takes until you’ve done it.
Secondly, there are only so many weekends in the summer, when many activities occur. Trying to find the right date without interfering with the weekends of long-established events like Graffiti Days, Ashcroft Rodeo, May Ball, etc. is an event unto itself! Event planners know that people won’t attend if there is something they’d rather be at, and they choose a date that they hope will attract the most participants.
And third, not everyone wants to attend every event out there. So the annual Pickle Bobbing Festival could turn out to be a bust, much to the chagrin of the organizers of the Belly-Dancing on the River weekend, who had to cancel because they were forced to schedule during the rainy season. On the other hand, people attending the belly-dancing event may hear about the Pickle-Bobbing Festival nearby and decide to go investigate while there’s a break in dancing.
So, let committees decide when to schdule their activities, and just be thankful that there are so many first-class activities to choose from and enjoy here.
Wendy Coomber is editor of the Ashcroft-Cache Creek Journal