‘Potentially catastrophic’: With no crowds allowed, festivals mull future

By Hadyn Watters: “The province estimates for each dollar it contributes into Celebrate Ontario funding, about $21 is spent by visitors to festival communities.

As festivals start thinking long-term, Dave MacNeil is eager to talk shifting demographics. As head of Festivals and Events Ontario, he represents about 2,500 festivals around the province.

When they return, MacNeil thinks festivals will have a harder time getting visitors from afar — and that some people won’t feel comfortable coming at all.

“It’s going to be a real matter of building your community back up and getting their people out of the house… We’re gonna have to create some sort of new normal,” he said. “We were one of the first [industries] to get hit and we’ll be one of the last out of it.”

Source: CBC