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Winter Blitzville considered one of city’s larger events
CBK-X Winter Blitzville was a success for the City of Cranbrook, with an estimated 7,000 people attending the event Feb. 15, council learned last night (March 9).
City community services manager Paul Heywood provided council with an update on the event.
He explained the event was moved to accommodate expected crowds, meet higher safety standards, and to allow the city organizers more options to entertain the patrons.
“The crowd was entertained by the multiple snowmobilers, on two sets of ramps and a large scale fireworks display. We also built a 40-foot-high mountain for the snowboard rail jam, and set up seven tents, two giant LED screens, while dozens of local vendors provided goods, and food for the patrons throughout the night,” a city administrative report outlined.
Over 30 sponsors donated cash, products or services “in order to make the event one of the largest in Cranbrook’s history. All the sponsors have been acknowledged for their support and plans are already in the works for next year’s festival.”
Council was also shown a video of the event (by Webster Film & Photography).
“We already have issues with crowds again, even though we moved it to a larger lot and we moved it to a larger lot for obvious safety reasons, to accommodate the crowds and make it more of a family-oriented event,” Heywood told council.
“It’s definitely a success, for sure,” noted Coun. Wes Graham.
Coun. Ron Popoff asked if there was “merit” to the word that the city may stretch the event to two days next year?
“We’re going together a select group of individuals who know how to do the larger-scale events. It’s important we try and get more revenues out of the individuals coming to the event and when we see more revenues coming in and more sponsorships, I think then we push it over to two days,” Heywood replied.
Speaking as a downtown business owner, Coun. Mike Peabody said, “I think the new location is way better.”
Mayor Lee Pratt he thought the second annual event was “fantastic” and “good job; it was a lot of work for the staff who helped you and Isaac Hockley was a big part of it, of course, so kudos to you guys for putting it on. I never heard one bad complaint.”
Heywood concluded, “The community showed up in full strength for this one.”
Lead image: An estimated 7,000 attended this year’s event outside Western Financial Place. Colin Ferguson/e-KNOW file photos
