Two annual festivals in Port Coquitlam that received federal funding drew a combined 36,000 visitors this year.
But organizers from one event had to dip into reserves to balance the books while the other celebration came out in the red.
According to a staff report that went before the city’s healthy communities committee last week, the 95th May Day fest saw about 24,000 people come out for the week-long bash and parade from May 4 to 13.
However, expenses were up due to the PoCo recreation complex rebuild (food services were contracted out for the Royal Banquet with the Wilson Centre kitchen closed) and with the transfer of work from city supervisors to the new Community and Civic Events team.
The May Day grant from the Department of Canadian Heritage also dropped by $4,700 this year — from $12,900 to $8,200 — and $8,500 was pulled from the May Day Reserve Operation Budget to offset the costs and ensure the $45,000 budget stayed pat.
Meanwhile, the Canada Day party at Lions and Castle parks brought in 12,000 guests, also a rise in attendance over last year.
Still, despite the $9,500 federal cash plus donations from Onni, Poco Inn and Suites, Harken Towing, Tidal Towing and the Gillnetter Pub — totalling $19,500 — the contributions weren’t enough to pay for the increased expenses for the stage, sound, entertainment and city labour, the report stated, as well as for the enhanced fencing around the fireworks set-up.
As a result, the July 1 party came in $6,100 over budget.
In other PoCo news:
For the 22nd time, graduating students at Port Coquitlam’s Riverside secondary will celebrate their after-grad at the Hyde Creek recreation centre.
Last week, the city’s healthy community committee granted free rental of part of the civic venue to the school after-grad group.
In exchange, the school parent advisory committee will pay for any extra staff costs incurred by the event, a city report states.
The school’s after-grad party will be held June 8, 2019.
