Plans are being put in place for a second Cavendish concert the weekend of July 14 and 15.  This means back-to-back concert weekends in the resort municipality with the Cavendish Beach Music Festival, already booked for July 6-8.

We, the residents and businesses in the Resort Municipality of Stanley Bridge, Hope River, Bayview, Cavendish and North Rustico are not against a second concert, but we don't believe the second weekend of July is a good idea.  We do support further use of the events grounds but feel that the concert would be better for everyone if it were in June, late August or September.

This is a tremendously challenging time for everyone: as individuals, as business owners, as destination managers and as Canadians. While the world and businesses of all sizes across all industries have been affected, the tourism industry faces challenges like no other.  COVID-19 has had a profound impact on the global economy. There has been significant disruption to the travel and tourism industry, and specifically to small and medium-sized businesses.

Having a second concert the weekend following CBMF will not help but will actually hurt the businesses in Cavendish.  

1. Cottages and other accommodation:  These would already be booked as July is the busiest month for families visiting PEI.  A concert in June,  late August or early September would help these businesses in a time when bookings are down.
2. Restaurants:  The concert planners say there are going to be local food and drink offerings and would feature local chefs. Once again, this will encourage people to stay on concert grounds.  Why leave to go to a restaurant? Local restaurants are at risk of losing business during their busiest time.  If the concert were in the shoulder season, perhaps they could partner and have a booth on site to help boost business during the slow season.
3. Shops/artisan studios:  People who attend these concerts do not go to local shops or studios.  They are there to attend the concert and purchase souveniers, etc. on site.  Why take two weekends in July away from these businesses during peak season?
4. Extend the season:  The local businesses have been trying hard to extend the shoulder season.  Having the concert later would allow businesses to partner with the concert while encouraging people to come to the Island in June or September and perhaps extend their stay longer than just for the concert weekend.
5. Different demographic:  People with families will come to Cavendish during the summer to enjoy water parks/amusement parks/inexpensive shopping on the Boardwalk.  Many visitors without children prefer to come in the shoulder season when it is less busy, food and wine festivals are on, etc.  A concert would be one more draw during the shoulder season.
6. Employment:  Just because students are back to school, doesn't mean there would be no one to work.  There are plenty of adult workers available who would be able to work in June and September.  Also, many students look for weekend work (even during the school year) so this would be another work/volunteer opportunity for them as well.

Now more than ever, operating in tourism isn’t easy.  Ideally, year-round tourism would help PEI's economy, so why not encourage events, concerts and other festivities that don’t occur at times when crowds would be large anyway.  Many local businesses are trying to stay open longer, with many open as late as Thanksgiving or Christmas.  A concert during the shoulder season would help this instead of putting one more event into an already busy summer season.