Strawberry Fare off for second year

‘‘Most [stallholders] are happy to roll over for another year.’’

Joy McIvor

Waimate has managed to stage two of its major events recently but another annual favourite, the Strawberry Fare, will not join them.

‘‘It was not an easy decision to make,’’ Strawberry Fare committee cochairperson Joy McIvor said of the cancellation for the second straight year.

‘‘We had held off until the Government’s announcement on Friday, and then we made the decision at a meeting on Monday night.’’

The event, which has followed behind October’s Waimate Shears and the Waimate 50, was to have taken place on December 11.

The Government’s traffic light Covid-19 system and trying to organise an event spread around two unfenced sites, Seddon Square and William Boland Park, made it complicated, McIvor said.

‘‘We advised our 280 stallholders and entertainment. Most of them are happy to roll over for another year.’’

The 2020 Strawberry Fare was also cancelled due to Covid-19. The event draws between 10,000 and 12,000 people with an annual turnover of approximately $23,000.

‘‘Most of that is paid by stallholders, and basically we’re self funded.’’

The cancellation joins a growing list of other events not going ahead and McIvor said while it would cause some financial pain, the committee had cash reserves.

‘‘We’re fortunate we’ve got a little bit in reserve. We’ll start planning again in the new year and monitor it through the year.

‘‘I think where the vaccination rates go will be the biggest issue,’’ McIvor said.