Saugeen Summer Nights is scheduled to return to Minto this summer.
Minto council announced Feb. 5 the town has signed an agreement with The Concert Factory to rent the grounds of the Harriston Community Centre for Saugeen Summer Nights June 13 to 15.
“The Town will be working hard to ensure the promoter offers a safe and fun-filled family music festival,” states a press release from the municipality.
“All appropriate agencies including the AGCO (Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario) and OPP will be involved in the planning and operation of this festival.”
Minto hosted Saugeen Summer Nights in Clifford in 2010, and the municipality is expecting the show for 2013 to be just as successful with the potential to be even bigger.
Mayor Bridge noted, “Strategically Minto has positioned itself to facilitate big events to make use of our facilities and benefit the local economy.”
The release indicates “All required deposits are in place and detailed planning for the festival is underway.”
A report from CAO Bill White at the Feb. 5 meeting stated the Concert Factory paid half the $5,000 rental for the facility on signing, with the balance due by March 1.
“The $5,000 rental is not refundable whether or not the event proceeds,” states the report.
In the press release, White stated “The town and the Concert Factory have negotiated an agreement that ensures the event will be a win-win for both parties, with the potential for local service clubs to participate as well.”
“The town will benefit directly from the facility rental, share in the alcohol proceeds and from the investment in the community,” states the town in the press release.
The agreement stipulates the promoters will handle alcohol sales under their own license, with the town slated to receive 20 per cent of the net income. The cost of fencing, tents, sanitary facilities power and security is the responsibility of The Concert Factory.
The agreement calls for details on traffic flow, parking, security and final site setup to be finalized well before the event.
“The agreement as currently structured eliminates most of the risk to the town if the event does not proceed and requires no financial outlay by the town,” White pointed out in his report.
At the Feb. 5 council meeting White said the event “has the potential have upwards of ten to twenty thousand people at it on any day.”
Promoter Richard Sharpe appeared at the Feb. 5 council meeting to discuss plans for the event. He was asked about the cancellation of a planned Saugeen Summer Nights concert in 2012 due to poor ticket sales.
“The main reason is that we couldn’t get the talent,” said Sharpe. “The cost of entertainment is extremely high and it just got out of control.”
For the 2013 concert, Sharpe said, “We have a very good line-up and we know that it will do the numbers.” Asked when the line-up would be released Sharpe said, “hopefully sooner, rather than later.”
When the cancellation of the 2012 event was announced last August, ticket-holders were offered the option of hanging onto their tickets and using them at the show in June, 2013. Sharpe said a process for redeeming 2012 tickets will be posted on The Concert Factory website.
