Lucan’s Baconfest has an uncertain future, and the municipality has decided to end its participation in the event.
Lisa deBoer, Lucan-Biddulph’s economic development officer, laid out the challenges Baconfest poses in a meeting Tuesday.
“As the event grows, it becomes more obvious that that is something, maybe, it is not something that we can continue to do on an ongoing basis.”
About 35,000 people are drawn to the one-day event that takes place in July.
It is run in conjunction with the commercial operator Hogtown Cycles.
Like many events, COVID-19 canceled Baconfest this summer, but when it runs, deBoer says it takes a lot of staff time and it has been increasingly difficult to find volunteers.
Lucan-Biddulph Mayor Cathy Burghardt-Jesson has been in talks with Hogtown and says they understand the community’s position.
“While it’s been a huge benefit and it’s been great for the community, it’s gotten to a point where we can’t tax our staff at that level anymore and they certainly understand. So, you know, is there going to be pushback? It will be a disappointment. “
The vote to end the municipality’s participation in the event was unanimous.
Burghardt-Jesson says a scaled-down version of Baconfest may still be possible, but that will depend on community members or local organizations.
Reference-london.ctvnews.ca