The Show & Shine event at the Hot July Nights Car, Bike Show and Swap Meet has been moved to a new venue this year, after complaints were made from some local business people about a schedule change.
Hot July Nights spokesperson Dave Mingo says the event has always been intended to attract business and tourism to the town, so the organizing committee was “very upset” to receive a petition with “strong opposition” to the schedule change. It was signed by eight downtown businesses.
The petition resulted from a move to hold the event on a Saturday evening, rather than on a Sunday morning as it was done before, which was partly done to accommodate out-of-town visitors, he explains.
There are also a limited number of volunteers and Mingo says they were covering related events late Saturday night and then going back very early Sunday morning to set up for the show.
The petition cited that road closures to set up and then an estimated 2,000 people turning out for the show would decrease their sales that day.
Mingo says organizers can’t see having the Show & Shine starting around 4 or 5 p.m., with setup a couple hours ahead of that, would have a negative impact.
“We don’t understand how we’re going to hurt their business with the opportunity to have this many people out on Birch [Avenue] at a time when it’s normally quiet.”
As a result of the petition, the Show & Shine has been moved to Centennial Park, which he notes is another “good location.”
“I’m happy moving it down there to show off our beautiful park and to show off what 100 Mile House has to offer. I hope there is still a benefit to the businesses in town by having it down there.”
Ken Thomas of Work N Play Clothing says he signed the petition, but adds he was just expressing his preference and will support the event regardless of whether it is downtown or in the park.
However, the two- or three-hour road closure on a Saturday afternoon would cut into his busy sales time, he explains, and he’s glad they decided to hold it in the park, as that venue needs to be utilized more.
“During one of the busiest days of the week, it’s not a favourable spot to have it on a business street. It would affect our revenues for sure.”
Now, Mingo says some other businesses are upset about moving the event to the park, but adds it’s too late to go back to Birch Avenue at this point with their current volunteers.
“The committee apologizes to the enthusiastic merchants on Birch Avenue who our event in Centennial Park may not supply the foot traffic that was intended by our original plan.”
The Hot July Nights event has also been moved to the later date of July 14-16 this year, which Mingo explains was done to avoid overlapping with a Provincial soccer tournament.
