The Downtown Squamish BIA is asking the District of Squamish to designate its Squamish Together celebration on Canada Day, a Municipally Significant Event, so they can operate a licensed beer garden above the provincial standard cost-recovery pricing.
The Squamish Together event, taking place July 1 at Junction Park, is a free, family-friendly celebration featuring live music and programming throughout the day, an artisan market with around 30 vendors, food trucks, and about 20 community groups.
Sarah Stewart, Events Coordinator for the BIA, said the designation is needed to sell drinks above the province’s standard cost-recovery price of five dollars per drink. Without it, she said, the BIA simply would not run a beer garden at all. “It wouldn’t be worth it,” Stewart said.
She noted the beer garden generated a few thousand dollars in revenue last year that went toward covering event costs. But she was clear the event itself is not at risk either way.
“The event would still go on,” Stewart said. “We just wouldn’t have a beer garden, which contributes to the festivities of the day for some people.”
Stewart said this is the first year she knew of the BIA formally applying for the designation, though she was uncertain how it had been handled in previous years. She hopes that patrons will enjoy the festivities regardless.
“We’re trying to incorporate as many cross sections and groups from Squamish as we possibly can,” said Stewart. “I’m very proud of what we’ve put together, I think it’s going to be a really exciting event.”
