Kempenfest pushing for sponsorship, continued support from city

CTV's Rob Cooper discusses how Kempenfest organizers are looking for continued financial support from the City of Barrie and sponsorship as the festival grows.

Although Kempenfest is widely referred to as Canada’s largest outdoor arts and crafts show, organizers say that fighting for sponsors and revenue can still be a challenge.

According to Paul Markle, Barrie Chamber of Commerce CEO and Kempenfest chair, and Tourism Barrie, the festival draws tens of thousands of people annually, with an economic impact of more than $8 million.

“For five or six years in a row we’ve been in the top 100 festivals in Ontario, and we don’t get that for doing things wrong,” said Markle in a Friday interview with CTV News.

At the same time, Markle attended this week’s committee meeting at City Hall, where he described the challenges that Kempenfest is facing as a growing festival.

Despite those challenges, Markle says it is a healthy event that simply needs continued support from the city.

“We are still very financially very viable and strong. There’s really no concern along those lines,” continued Markle. “What we are looking for is, because of the significant economic impact that the event provides back to the city, we’re looking for some support.”

Bryn Hamilton, Ward 10 councillor, has raised some concerns about what financial support it may offer in the future.

Earlier this week, a general committee gave initial approval to a motion that future city support for such festivals be administered through the creation of an in-kind tourism grant.

For example, for next year’s event, it would offer in-kind staff support for things like shuttle bus services and infrastructure on the second stage.

“Washrooms, facilities, porta potties, those sorts of things, they quadruple, over the span of five years. Costs for artists and bands, staging, all of those costs have risen,” explained Markle. “If the city had the ability to give us some additional dollars through the Municipal Accommodation Tax (MAT) to support our infrastructure at our community stage, then great. But if that funding isn’t available, not a problem, we will be able to survive.

Kempenfest saw an increase of about 14 per cent in visitors from last year. The festival estimates that 25 per cent of them were from out of town.

With files from CTV’s Rob Cooper.