Festival 2008 a study in contrasts for me

This year’s Annapolis Valley Apple Blossom Festival has been, to my mind, a study in contrasts; supported and in some ways rebuffed at the same time.

The Festival itself, as a complete entertainment package that caters to all ages, is the primo event in Nova Scotia, bar none. Let’s settle that right off the bat. It’s huge, and we owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to Festival Board members and the many volunteers who work hard to make it happen.

The weather Saturday was, to be blunt, the pits, but the Festival still managed to draw over 80,000 people for its Grand Street Parade, 25,000 for the 75th anniversary of the Children’s Parade and about 12,000 for the fireworks Friday night at Memorial Park.

Serious numbers that most other attractions provincially and nationally would envy. Yet some of the events I attended didn’t sell out and one in particular felt like a private session rather than an all-ages concert.

There were plenty of empty seats at the Coronation ceremony Friday night and that puzzles me. Yes, some folks might consider the princess pageant a throwback, but if we don’t acknowledge and respect the tradition it represents then we’ve lost a vital perspective on what this Festival is all about and why we celebrate the season.

The crowning of Queen Annapolisa is a symbolic reference to everything upon which our region depends. It epitomizes the need for a vibrant agriculture industry that’s the foundation of our economic stability and future success.

And the accomplished young women who stand up for their communities as princess representatives are the best of the best, worthy of our praise and attention. Why wouldn’t we want to applaud their willingness to be goodwill ambassadors for the region and do them the honour of attending an event such as the Coronation?

Elsewhere, unfortunately, Applepalooza Saturday afternoon at Kentville Centennial Arena featured more event staff than patrons, and that’s a shame.

A band from Halifax named Remedy warmed the place up with some hot tunes in anticipation of Canadian Idol finalist Dwight d’Eon. Too bad only a few people were there to take in two hours of music and enjoy a lobster supper afterward, and a mere handful showed up for the evening reprise and beergarden.

D’Eon is from Yarmouth and maybe not local enough for a Valley audience, but he has a national profile, so what’s up with no fans and such little support? Price of admission, perhaps?

The fact is it costs money to book entertainers, cook suppers and showcase Festival events. It strikes me funny that some people clearly have an aversion to parting with some cash to catch top-flight entertainment or to enjoy a fully catered meal. Do we really expect something for nothing? That doesn’t happen in my world, kids. Everything costs and nothing’s free.

I feel for the promoter of Applepalooza and for the Festival volunteers who worked to make it happen. My guess is they took a bath on this one.

What we need to figure out is a post-parade event that will capture the imaginations of the paying public or explore an alternative, like a Friday night concert in the park as a prelude to the fireworks, the way it used to be.

Money’s tight, but the Festival deserves our support. Its value and economic impact is undeniable and it is incumbent on each of us to ensure that its future does, indeed, continue to blossom.