A unique vehicle-only drive-thru charity event planned for Victoria will not be going ahead, despite recent changes to B.C.’s COVID-19 restrictions.
Transcend Victoria announced on Tuesday that Victoria Wonderland drive-thru will not be going ahead this year, even though the province amended its COVID-19 restrictions to allow it to operate.
“We are, of course, heartbroken with this turn of events, as the response had been so incredible for the show,” said Mike Wilson, co-founder of Transcend Victoria, in a press release issued Tuesday.
The soldout event, which was to be held at the Breakwater District at Ogden Point, would have seen vehicles drive through an immersive LED light tunnel filled with animated lights, holiday grandeur, displays, holograms, synchronized lasers, and holiday music remixed by local artists. The entire drive was to take 25 minutes.
The event was also a fundraiser for a variety of local charities including Victoria Hospice, Power to Be, Make a Wish Foundation and Victoria Women’s Transition House.
Transcend Victoria says after the provincial government rolled out measures last month limiting social gatherings to immediate household members and cancelling all planned events, production on the Victoria Wonderland event halted.
“With that one inexplicable decision to include our event, which was designed to be completely contact-free from the beginning, all of that excitement was reversed into having to cancel and now deal with refunding 8,000 terribly upset families,” Wilson said in a statement.
The company says those who purchased tickets will be offered refunds or can “simply donate their purchase” to help them recover its losses. It also says any profits will be directed to the charities associated with the event.
More info www.victoriawonderland.com.
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