Another successful Summer in the City has come to a close, but the work isn’t over yet for the board behind the event.
Board chair Audrey Harder says this year’s festival was one of the best yet.
“I really felt this weekend went smoother than we've ever had any festival. With all the people who were doing all the work in the background, all the volunteers, we got quite far with all of it and everything went quick. We had the most amount of vendors that we've ever had. We filled up the street very well. It was very well set up and well monitored, and it was amazing.”
Although the board doesn’t have an exact attendance count, Harder believes this year drew more people than ever before.
“Every end of the festival this year was packed. There was no stoppage, there was no quiet space. It was full almost all weekend. Sunday we actually had way more people than we've ever had on the Sunday before, which is great.”
She credits the great turnout to a few key factors.
“We really feel like the weather plays a huge part in that. It was beautiful out all weekend. It was predicted to be nice out, so people will come. I also think that there's a couple of festivals that happen around this area, but this one has become one of the biggest. So, with the vendors and the amount of community support, I think we just have a little bit more people who are coming out every year.”
Over the years, the festival has also grown into a Father’s Day tradition, which has helped boost attendance on Sunday even more.
As with any large event, challenges arise, and Harder says the board continues to learn and adapt each year.
“We had quite a few lost parents and a few things like that, but that's not unusual. Every festival we have that, and we had a few things going on at the festival, but we also had a really big police presence, which was very helpful and kept people as safe as they could. So that really made me feel good, although it wasn't perfect and it never will be, it felt really good to have them work so well with us at the festival.”
Starting next week, the board will begin debriefing, meeting with teams from each area of the festival to evaluate what worked and what can be improved for next year. One of the things they’ve already flagged is bike parking.
“We need to provide a spot where they can lock those bikes up, those kind of things. So, there's some of those things that we notice.”
Accessibility also remains a key focus. Harder says they added ramps to help people get over boulevards more easily, and the board is committed to making the festival inclusive for all attendees.
She also emphasizes the tremendous amount of behind-the-scenes work that goes into organizing the event year after year.
“We've already started planning for next year before this year started. All weekend we take notes, we make lists, we plan, we organize, we find out new ways to do things, and we work really hard together.”
Harder says that seeing everything come together reminds her that all the hard work is worth it.
“I remember standing there at the end of the concert just listening to all the sounds of the people and watching everything and thinking, this is good, this is really good. And I think next year it's going to be just as great, so we're really looking forward to that.”
Her dedication over the years comes from a strong love for the Steinbach community, with the event serving as a celebration of the city’s diverse cultures and character.
“We get to show off. And in a way, I think that's important because I think we don't always get to say this is who we are in one weekend, and I feel like this weekend every year is an opportunity to say, ‘We're Steinbach’. This is who we are and come and join us come and celebrate with us.”
This year’s event was also a personal milestone for Harder, marking her final festival as board chair.
“For me, that's hard after so many years, six years I think it is of doing it and I feel like it's good that somebody else will come there and take the reins and make things even better. So, it's bittersweet for me, but I’m excited to see what happens next year.”
With files from Kenton Dyck