As Squamish grooves with weekend activities, UBC students will be there to capture the action.
Saturday (Aug. 10) marks the second On the Street festival - a day in which family fun takes over Squamish's downtown. Between Victoria and Winnipeg streets, Cleveland Avenue will be packed with bands, Zumba dancing, a giant chalk zone, pancake breakfast and a bouncy castle. The festivities are organized by the Downtown Squamish Business Improvement Association (BIA).
"It is a pedestrian-only event with a theme of arts and culture," said Christine Bennett, the association's executive director.
Bennett is mentoring a third-year class of marketing and business students who will film the town's happenings to create promotional videos. In return, the Downtown Squamish BIA will use the end products to showcase the festival and Squamish.
"They have incredible, inventive ideas," Bennett said.
Downtown Squamish BIA members hope to grow the event and draw visitors from out of town. With so many activities going on that weekend - the annual West Coast Open and Canadian National Kiteboard Racing Championships and the sixth annual Hevyfest - it's a chance to highlight the vibrancy of the community, Bennett said.
On the Street also gives residents a taste of what it would be like if a section of Cleveland Avenue was permanently made pedestrian-only, she said. It's not a new concept, but the idea has resurfaced with the District of Squamish's downtown transformation initiative.
"It keeps coming up," Bennett said.
For more information on the event visit www.downtownsquamish.com.
