Falling attendance and an inability to attract vendors and entertainment has led to the cancellation of the Port Coquitlam Business Improvement Association's Harvest Festival this fall.
Wayne Goudal, the treasurer of the BIA, said the number of people who attended the event in recent years has declined dramatically and the organization is looking at better ways of spending the $25,000 it costs to put on the festival.
"It has been a major challenge," he said. "Every year it was more and more difficult to bring people in."
Over the years, the Harvest Festival went from being a market for food vendors to more of a family picnic event at Lions Park. Goudal said that while the cancellation of the festival is disappointing, the increased popularity of farmer's markets still keeps some of the Harvest Festival traditions alive.
"When the Harvest Festival began 15 years ago, it was like a farmer's market with a few rides," he said. "The farmer's markets have almost taken over for the traditional harvest festival."
According to Goudal, the BIA is still looking at other events or projects to put on in PoCo's downtown and are encouraging local businesses to come forward with their ideas. A "buy local" campaign is also in the works to encourage residents to shop at businesses in their own community.
He said plans for the BIA-sponsored car show, which draws thousands to the downtown core in August, and Christmas in Leigh Square this winter are still on track.
