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North Bay's Summer in the Park event is in jeopardy if this year is not successful, warns its chairman John Strang.
The festival had a shortfall of $45,000 last year and promised the city it would be repaid over the next three years in $15,000 increments.
"That puts pressure on the committee and on this festival to have a solid year and repay that fifteen thousand dollars. We can't keep going back to the well every year and asking the city for more money, so when I say it's in jeopardy if it's not supported, I can't see how we go back to the city and not pay that fifteen thousand dollar commitment back this year.
Strang says the importance of the festival can't be understated.
"We want to make people understand that this is an economic engine in the City of North Bay and the region."
Strang says not only the community at large, but the business community needs to support the event to ensure it lasts this year and into the future.
"It will be a long summer for a lot of businesses that I know if we don't have events like this in the area."
The committee feels it has addressed public concerns about wristband prices and the type of entertainment being presented.
"The fact we don't offer a country night, we've addressed that and the price point concern as well. Now it's up to us to market it and the public to buy their wristbands and support it."
The target again this year for wristband sales is 10,000.
"It's not an outrageous target. We've sold way more than that in the past. I think it's quite attainable but we need that support."
Wristband prices and the entertainment lineup will be announced by the committee at the Monday April 27th meeting of city council.
"It's going to be a great weekend of music in North Bay," Strang said.
