The Chemainus Summer Fest celebration is a labour of love for the Chemainus Rotary Club.
“The event takes countless hours to plan,” noted club spokesperson Shannon Bellamy.
Saturday’s community-building event is the club’s gift to Chemainus and area. The only cost to participants is for food.
Parade participants don’t pay an entry fee, the children’s activities and musical entertainment are free and the club does not profit from the event.
Previously called Chemainus Daze for many years, past President Dennis Ahola suggested a name change to Chemainus Summer Fest in 2008 and it’s been known as that ever since.
“The planning begins when the Chemainus Summer Fest Team meets to develop the event and decide on a theme,” noted Bellamy.
After that, the duties are extensive, she indicated.
The poster is developed and approval is requested to stage the event, including the parade. Musical entertainment is arranged, groups to handle the children’s activities are contacted and arrangements made, the cook tent has to be coordinated, menu planned, food purchased for both breakfast and lunch and cook tent team scheduled.
“Sometimes, tents, table and chairs have to be provided to these groups,” Bellamy added.
In addition, contracts with businesses that supply specific items such as a bouncy castle are developed. Past parade participants are contacted and sent information, encouraging them to enter the parade again.
Approval from Western Forest Products is required to marshal the parade in the upper lot with a Rotarian and a group of three volunteers, two of whom are the judges. The parade route has to be blocked for the event and security provided at every intersection.
Equipment from the Municipality of North Cowichan is borrowed for the route security. The Municipality has, for many years, made a grant to the club to assist with Summer Fest. Set-up at Waterwheel Square begins at the Rotary bunker at 6 a.m. that day and the Chemainus Fire Rescue team has been a tremendous support for many years, showing up at the bunker to help load everything and then assist with set-up and take-down.
The Rotary pancake breakfast starts at 8 a.m. and the parade hits the streets at 11.
“We are a small club and without our Friends of Rotary we couldn’t manage this event,” Bellamy explained. “Each year, we contact our Friends of Rotary and find out who can assist. Sometimes, we have to find others as we don’t have enough volunteers and each year, our Friends show up with smiles on their faces to help us show our appreciation for our community. Our Rotarians keep smiling all day as we have a load of fun bringing the event to Chemainus.”
Bellamy reminds everyone the Summer Fest team will close off certain streets for the parade. Willow will be closed from 7:30 a.m. Saturday and Oak and Esplanade Streets from 10:10 a.m.
“In consideration of your needs, as well as the safety of those coming out to enjoy the parade, we would appreciate if residents along the route would park their vehicles off the street until the parade is over,” reads a statement from the organizing team.
