With Fridays such a success, Saturday were sure to follow.
Beach Food Fridays, an initiative planting a handful of food trucks on the scenic Esquimalt Lagoon in Colwood, just doubled down by expanding to Saturdays.
“The first few weeks were really successful, the vendors did brisk business and customers enjoyed people walking by. All commented it was a great success,” said Colwood spokesperson Sandra Russell.
She said one of the main pieces of feedback since it started mid-June, was why it was only on Fridays, which was a working day for many. So the trial that started with some picnic tables with large umbrellas near the welcome sign on Ocean Boulevard alongside of a handful of food trucks, is now two days a week. Despite the moderately increased congestion along the road, she said it has been a positive for everyone involved.
“A lot of people like that it has a traffic calming effect on Ocean Boulevard which is something we need,” Russell said. “A lot of people use it as a commuter route and going quite fast down that road and (cars are) slowing down. Having people enjoying the area on foot is a good thing there.”
While there might be some traffic calming on most days, this Saturday (July 9) there won’t be any traffic at all as Eats and Beats closes down Ocean Boulevard for one of Colwood’s biggest outdoor events of the year.
“I’m excited about the event there has been a lot of interest on social media so there is a big crowd, the weather is looking iffy but it will be a great event,” she said. “We have great local musicians almost a dozen food vendors around the area and I think it is going to be a lot of fun.”
Beach Food Fridays and Saturdays continues from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. through August 27, while Eats and Beats is July 9 from 1 to 8 p.m.
alim@goldstreamgazette.com
