About a dozen musical acts hit Harrison’s shores this weekend, for the second annual Bands on the Beach.
And now that it’s all over, organizers are giving a solid round of applause to the businesses who supported the event.
“It was better than we had hoped,” said Councillor Sonja Reyerse. The longtime Harrison-Agassiz Chamber of Commerce director put on her “Chamber hat” to organize the event, alongside her husband and Chamber executive Robert Reyerse, and musician Todd Richard.
“Based on last year’s turnout and lineup, this event was more than we could have hoped for, and having the support of the local businesses was incredible,” she said.
The intention of the event was to drive tourism, or “put heads in beds”, she said, and it was also a success that way.
The two-day event, headlined by Richard, was free to the public.
While funding for Bands on the Beach was initially estimated at $5,000, that cost quickly doubled.
While $4,000 of the money needed came from the Village’s Resort Municipality funds (the 2% tax charged for lodging and returned to the Village), the remaining $6,000 was raised through a plea to businesses.
The Chamber, Harrison Resort and Spa, Tourism Harrison and Topline Sheet Metal each donated $500, and many more businesses pitched in as well.
“The rest came from Chamber members just wanting this to happen,” she said.
In total, about 800 – 1,000 people attended on Saturday, and about 2,000 attended on Sunday.
“We are very happy with the results,” she said.
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