Plans for this year’s JulyFest — scheduled for July 21 through 23 — are proceeding and Karen Remple has come on board as the coordinator.
The big news for this year’s JulyFest is, of course, the completely new location.
JulyFest Central, also known as the Bocce Pits, is moving to Centennial Park this year. The move was made necessary by the construction of the new Splash Park on Rotary Drive at the old bocce location.
And Centennial Park is where all the bocce action, as well as food vendors and kids festival, will be located.
And there is news on the beer front as well. First, prices have been reduced and a can of beer will cost $5 this year. And secondly, as a pilot project, with the permission of the Kimberley RCMP and the Liquor Inspector, beer will not be poured into plastic cups this year.
Remple says that the agreement is that the JulyFest Committee will have cups on hand so that if there are any problems, beer will be poured again. She hopes all goes well, since the beer cans can be recycled while the plastic cups just end up in the landfill.
Beer has been poured at JulyFest since an incident about ten years ago, when someone threw a full beer can at police.
It will be a big bonus for those volunteering in the beer tent, as pouring every beer is time consuming.
As an added extra, JulyFest beer cozies will be sold.
Admission to the bocce pits is $5 again this year. That money is important, Remple says, though she knows some people are against charging at the gate.
“The money pays for the bands and a whole lot more,” she said.
However, food vendors will be outside the pay gate, so if you want to see what they are offering — and not pay admission — you can.
As there is no Saturday night band concert due to the renovations at the Civic Centre, the party will be at the bocce pits all weekend.
“We have all local bands at the bocce pits,” Remple said.
She says there are really only two choices — you pay really big money for a name band and hope to recoup it, or you have local bands.
“I’m excited about the music we have lined up,” she said.
Bocce registration is now open at kimberleyjulyfest.com. There will be a prize for the best team name this year.
Remple is also looking for sponsorship and volunteers to begin signing up. If you’d like to help out, give her a call at 250-427-8709.