Hoping to improve on slow ticket sales, Timmins city council will consider offering reduced rates for kids at this year's edition of Stars and Thunder.
Mayor Steve Black brought the idea forward during a festival planning update during Tuesday's meeting, with a realization that the original price structure may have been ill advised.
"The committee has discussed and supported implementing a children's price for the festival. This comes after feedback from various residents. A family of four, you're looking at $1,100 dollars in the general admission area right now, if they all need to buy full price," he said.
Proposed is a $100 week long child's pass in general admission, or $200 for the VIP area, along with $25 daily child's passes.
"We wanted to ensure that we bring that to council, as it does change the pricing structure. It's our hope that by having a more affordable children's price, it would lead to some of those families who may have been leaning on the side of not attending, or not being able to afford to attend as a family, saving up the money and coming out as a family to enjoy the festivities," said Black.
Councillor Joe Campbell asked Black why there wasn't anything in the council package on the item, if it was going to be up for a vote. Black brushed it off by saying the vote could be postponed if council desired.
"Well you're talking about numbers here, and I have nothing in front of me here. Basically in a nutshell, there's nothing on the agenda. I'm not saying I'm opposed to it, but I would suggest that there be something down here as to what we're really looking at," replied Campbell.
Black said the price change would be best to implement 'sooner rather than later', and said if the price structure does change, then there will be refunds involved for those who have already purchased tickets for their kids at the old price.
Councillor Joe Campbell had some strong words for Mayor Steve Black on Tuesday. Andrew Autio for TimminsTodayCouncillor Noella Rinaldo was tepid, at best, to the idea of more children in the festival.
"I have some concerns with children being there. This is a music festival, it's not a family festival. Canada Day is perhaps a little different, but we have to be very careful," she said.
Rinaldo said she couldn't picture an eight-year-old wandering through the VIP crowd on the busier days. She received countless e-mails from the public about why they couldn't bring their kids, and why they couldn't bring their kid's juice boxes.
"I don't consider this a children's event. I will concur with the rest of council. I have a feeling I will be out-voted on this, only because I think we have to look at this and the logistics of having children there a lot differently."
She said the lack of kids in the park last year likely downplayed some of the growing pains of the inaugural festival, such as problematic refreshment and restroom lineups.
"It doesn't mean that kids are not allowed. I think parents have to use their discretion. I think the prices helps us control that."
Councillor Rick Dubeau said it's not up to council to tell parents what to do, although he is concerned about the financial implications of changing the prices, as the entire festival is based on a budget.
Black reiterated his position that a more 'family friendly' price could end up enticing more parents out. He also responded to Rinaldo's comments by noting that at the Boots and Hearts Festival near Orillia, as well as locally at Rock On The River, kids under 12 are allowed in for free, and that he considers both of those festivals to be more 'raucous' than Stars and Thunder.
"Understanding that we do have a capacity, and we do have a revenue, and we don't necessarily want to give up a whole lot of spots for free. We're asking to make a little more affordable and have a kids pricing," he said.
Campbell pushed for the vote to be deferred until a detailed report is presented at the next council meeting on Jan. 29 – a request which was granted – and said there is "more to this story than meets the eye." He ended the discussion with a not-so-subtle jab toward Black.
"You're in trouble with your tickets, face it."
