A modified version of the Inner Harbour Summer Line Up along the Lower Causeway will be brought back for summer 2021 after the event was unable to run in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
New measures will be put in place to help with safe social distancing, including mask requirements for all vendors. Around half the amount of vendors will be at the Lower Causeway than there were in 2019, according to organizers.
“Relaunching the Inner Harbour Summer Line Up will bring life back to the Lower Causeway, which is part of the centre of tourism for the downtown core,” said Ian Robertson, CEO of the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority, in a press release Wednesday. “In 2020, we were unable to safely find a way to allow artisans and vendors to interact with causeway users.”
“In years past we’ve had about 50 spaces but we’ve had more vendors than spaces,” said Brian Cant, Greater Victoria Harbour Authority Communications Manager. “A full day would have been about 40 to 45 vendors on the busiest weekend days that we’ve had in 2019.”
Cant also said that this year’s line-up won’t feature the same attractions as in a normal year to accommodate for COVID-19 requirements.
“We won’t have any street musicians or street performers. So, no buskers just because of Island Health regulations,” said Cant. “So, it will just be artisans, vendors and food vendors this year until further notice.”
The Summer Line Up is set to start on Saturday, May 1 and will end on Sunday, Sept. 12. Artisans and vendors will be set up daily between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m.
Despite the changes, vendors are still looking forward to returning to the Summer Line Up.
“I am very appreciative of the chance to return to the Inner Harbour after these uncertain times,” said Mike Hill, one of the causeway artisans. “As a 20-year participant of the Victoria waterfront scene, I am excited to bring my jewelry back to the causeway and I look forward to seeing all the folks who come down and support the local artists.”
Cant also says that things could change if restrictions are relaxed as the summer goes on.
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Justin Waddell
