Warrnambool’s Fun4Kids Festival will undergo one of its most significant changes in its 19th year.
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This week’s Warrnambool City Council announcement that it was cutting the festival from seven days to five days was prudent.
The Standard has been a long and proud supporter of the festival since its inception. The concept, to create an event that boosts tourism in the depths of the winter, has achieved its goal.
It’s easy to argue the $450,000 or so the council spends on the festival is worth every cent in generating tourism dollars and marketing among families.
But the event has always attracted criticism, especially the cost to ratepayers and disruption to traders in the central business district. Some has been warranted, like in 2014 when the costs ballooned to $593,000, putting the festival’s future in serious doubt.
The council has worked hard to address concerns but the bottom line, in an era of rate capping, is more than just a number these days. Every dollar needs to be justified.
This week’s decision to cut the event from seven days to five days is aimed at making it more sustainable – a sensible move – but while striking a balance and maintaining the event’s popularity. The festival generates immense community goodwill and a positive vibe that brightens up the traditionally dull winter school holidays. An increasing financial burden could undermine that community support, another reason to applaud this week’s decision.
While the number of hours of entertainment will only decrease by five with the festival now running later to 7pm, the event should remain good value for patrons. Fewer days should also ease the cost to ratepayers.
Organisers should be applauded for their approach. It’s never easy to tinker with a format that has pleased thousands but for the festival to survive and prosper, it had to happen.
Last year’s festival was popular but a change will be good. Events like Fun4Kids need to evolve, need to freshen up and need to be bold. The new approach and a widely anticipated headline act should deliver a significant boost when the 2017 event opens on July 5. Fewer days should mean the same amount of fun is packed into a shorter period.
Most parents who have been run off their feet squeezing every aspect into a day in the past will probably argue a good time is better than a long time. Let the fun times roll.