Making a comeback
Large-scale events like Wharf Rat Rally, Ribfest and festivals returning to in-person events
After two years of scaled-back, virtual and/or canceled events, some major events in southwestern Nova Scotia are looking to make a comeback in 2022 as planning is underway to hold in-person events once again.
One of the biggest events making a return is the Wharf Rat Rally in Digby.
The motorcycle rally has attracted tens of thousands of visitors over the Labour Day weekend in non-COVID years and is a major economic boost for not only Digby, but the surrounding region.
The past two years it’s been a virtual event.
“Like places and businesses, the rally took a big hit so we’re hopeful to come back with a bit of a bang this year,” says Peter James, who is involved with its organization. “We’re going to have to start from scratch again and try to build everything back up, so it has its challenges; but everybody is super keen to get on it and to have a big rally.”
The rally will take place Sept. 1-4.
“The lack of a rally has been felt over the last two COVID-19 years and will be a welcome return for the region and communities, from the Annapolis Valley to the Southwest region,” says Rickey Stewart, chair of the Wharf Rat Rally Motorcycle Association.
“The Wharf Rat Rally has become more than just a Digby event. Increased travel and tourism to the region as a whole has helped make the rally a keystone event in the province,” he says.
James notes as the region and province look to recover economically from two years of the pandemic, bringing the rally back is significant as it generates millions of dollars in economic activity. It’s loss has been felt.
Even the rally itself had to let go of its headquarters during the pandemic as it couldn’t afford to keep paying rent without any revenue.
But the COVID impact on the accommodations sector, restaurants and other businesses has been extremely hard, James says.
“We’re hopeful we can bring that economic boost back into the area,” he says.
James says the rally will bring back things that have worked well in the past and organizers are also planning new surprises to keep the event fresh so that it continues to attract participants and visitors, including new ones.
“It’s surprising how positive a lot of people are,” he says, particularly after years of COVID restrictions, mandates and lockdowns. “I think they’re just done with all of the hibernating and they just want to come out and blow off some steam.”
Throughout southwestern Nova Scotia plans are in the works for festivals and a return to in-person events. There are new events planned – like Dock St. Days in Shelburne July 30-31 – and preparations underway for familiar ones, such as Yarmouth Seafest (July 13-24) and Digby Scallop Days (Aug. 4-7). The Clare Acadian Festival has set July 30 to Aug. 6, and also Aug. 15, as its dates. During the pandemic many festivals only ran virtual activities.
The Roaring 20s Antique Auto Club announced in March that its Car Cruise and Yarmouth Car Show will be back July 15 and 16. The Western Nova Scotia Exhibition in Yarmouth posted on its Facebook page in March that it is keeping an eye on the COVID situation but that an exhibition from Aug. 3-6 is
on its radar.
(Note to readers: Because there are so many events being planned in the region, they can’t all be listed in this story. If you’re wondering what’s back on, a visit to the event websites and Facebook pages will keep you updated.)
Another event that had been canceled the past couple of years because of COVID is Ribfest in Yarmouth. This year it is being held July 8-10 at the Mariners Centre. Unlike previous years, this year it’s being organized and run by the Rotary Club of Yarmouth. In other parts of the province, Ribfest is a Rotary Club event.
Linda Deveau, of Yarmouth’s Rotary Club, says they had been approached to host Ribfest years ago but the club was going through a transition in membership and had other projects on the go so it was felt it wasn’t the best time to take it on.
When the former organizers decided to step away from the event, the Rotary Club took another look and decided to go with it.
“We looked at what had been done in Yarmouth and we said maybe the time is right. The location is right and the event is right and it just felt right for us,” says Deveau. “We decided to roll up our sleeves and take it on.”
But then came the COVID pandemic and the event was sidelined for two years. Now planning is on for 2022.
“The spirit is there from the ribbers, they really enjoy our community and they’re looking forward to coming back,” says Deveau, who admits COVID still remains on people’s minds.
“COVID is a little bit in our rear-view mirror in some ways, and in our headlights in another. However, they are looking to come back with four to five ribber trucks.”
The event will also showcase local entertainment and provide opportunities for vendors.
Meanwhile, one thing that all of the events being planned share in common is the need for volunteers.
Quite often planning for major events is a year-round process, or, at the very least, takes up the better part of a year. Although the province has lifted its COVID restrictions and mandates, the message has still been for people to protect themselves from the virus, by, for instance, continuing to wear masks and even still keeping gathering limits in mind.
Asked if there is still some nervousness when it comes to planning large-scale events because you never know what COVID has in store, event organizers admit there is, but say they are still moving forward with their plans.
“It’s a cautious positivity,” says Peter James from the Wharf Rat Rally. “Who knows what the future is going to bring, but at the end of the day we’ve got to be positive and have a look at what we can do. We think it’s going to be a great event.”