Back to the beer gardens for festivalgoers.
There will be no site-wide drinking at Squamish Valley Music Festival this year.
Although District of Squamish council authorized festival producers to submit an application to extend the primary liquor licence to include site-wide alcohol service, the provincial alcohol licensing authority has put the kibosh on roaming the grounds with the frothy stuff.
The Liquor Control and Licensing Branch, which regulates liquor service, did agree to a compromise, according to district event manager Vanessa Carrington, who notified council of the news at the committee of the whole Tuesday.
Centennial Field, where the festival main stage is located, will be opened up for alcohol consumption until 9 p.m., Carrington said. The beer gardens available last year will return. The festival runs Aug. 7 to 9.
The Pemberton Music Festival, to be held this weekend, was also denied a site-wide permit, Carrington said.
