Outdoor enthusiasts can look forward to a trifecta of full-day street festivals over the spring, summer and fall in downtown Prince George.
CrossRoads Brewing is teaming up with local outdoor recreation clubs to throw street parties at the meeting point between George St. and Fifth Ave. on May 26, July 14 and Sept. 29. Each Saturday event will feature a different theme promoting outdoor activity; the May event will feature distinctly human-powered rec clubs focused on biking, paddling and fishing, while the July event will focus on motorsports, including motocross and jetboating. The September event will round out the season with a focus on winter events, such as skiing and snowboarding. Each full-day festival will conclude with an outdoor, licensed street party.
CrossRoads co-owner Bjorn Butow said he and co-owner Daryl Leiski decided to throw the events in order to bring more people into the city's downtown core.
"Being a downtown business, we were looking to do something downtown - to contribute events to the downtown as well, as part of that wave of local businesses that are trying to make downtown happen again," Butow said.
Butow said he often gets requests from community groups asking for sponsorship or promotional help. As a new small business, he said the street festivals were a way to partner with outdoor clubs who are hoping to reach out to new members and draw people outside.
"We were trying to figure out how we could we do something where it was good for us and good for others. I think doing this, where we partner with the clubs - the days being the clubs event and the evening is our street party - the idea is that we can do something where if we do well, they do well," he said.
"These clubs are just like us, they're struggling to promote themselves."
"We really hope these events will become annual gathering places for anyone interested in getting involved, already involved, or curious to check out the track, trail and water rides and outdoor gear," said Leiski.
Each date will feature a free family-friendly day portion focused on the outdoor club activities from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., followed by a ticketed evening lineup of music starting at 6 p.m. Tickets for the evening events are $29 and include a souvenir glass and a first drink.
The event, which will involve closing down the George St. and Fifth Ave. intersection to traffic, has so far earned enthusiastic support from nearby businesses, such as the Prince George Ramada and The Keg restaurant.
"We're excited to see the local owners of CrossRoads Brewing step up to host these street festivals", said Colleen van Mook, executive director of Downtown Prince George.
"These events are important contributors to the vibrancy of downtown, along with our many existing businesses and special events. In fact, their July street festival will be part of our expanding Downtown Summerfest weekend."
Butow hopes the event will help foster a more positive attitude towards the downtown core as a destination.
"How else do you get people downtown, right? You've got to create some excitement," Butow said.
