It looks like a few city-backed summer events will be staged in Owen Sound after all this year, now that public gathering limits have increased in Stage 3 of Ontario's re-opening framework.
City council approved at its meeting Monday holding two drive-in movie nights and three TD Harbour Nights concerts in August and September, pending final approvals and consultations with Public Health.
According to a city staff report, the drive-in movie nights would take place on Fridays still to be confirmed in late August and early September at the north parking lot of the Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre.
The event would be able to accommodate up to 100 vehicles. City staff note drive-in venues are not subject to the outdoor gathering restriction of 100 people in Stage 3 of Ontario's Reopening Framework.
The city is also looking to have a designated area for lawn chairs with circles marked out on grass for physical distancing, to allow those who want to bike or walk to the drive-in movie night.
The event would be free to attend, but those wishing to go would have to reserve a spot online to get a ticket for capacity purposes.
“Volunteers and security will be on site to check tickets and ensure people are maintaining proper physical distancing, with one parking space required between each vehicle,” a report by the city's events assistant Heather Gillis explains.
The estimated cost for the city of the drive-in movie nights is just over $13,000.
Meantime, planning is underway for the resumption of TD Harbour Nights concerts in late August and early September at the Kelso Beach Park Amphitheatre.
City staff plan to mark out spaces on the grass — each meant for a group of two people — to maintain physical distancing.
The TD Harbour Nights concerts are expected to cost the city about $4,000, as most of the expenses associated with the shows are covered by sponsorships.