ByWard Market BIA praises La Machine

The ByWard Market BIA is saying a big “THANK YOU” to Ottawa 2017 and everyone involved with La Machine.

Organizers estimate 750,000 people flooded the ByWard Market, downtown Ottawa and the LeBreton Flats area for the four-day street-theatre production. Bars, restaurants and shops were packed in the ByWard Market all weekend.

In a statement, ByWard Market BIA Executive Director Jasna Jennings says “La Machine lived up to and surpassed all expectations. The Market was alive with more people than even Canada Day.”

Jennings also praises Guy LaFlamme and all of his Ottawa 2017 team for their goal to shirk our “sleepy town image”, saying “This sleepy little town sure came to life.”

Long Ma, the dragon-horse, and Kumo, the spider, roamed the ByWard Market Friday and Saturday.  Thousands of people packed the streets each day to watch the two giant creatures tour the streets.

The ByWard Market BIA says some bars and restaurants in the ByWard Market ran out of food on Saturday.

Ottawa 2017 says it cost $3.5 million to bring La Machine to Ottawa.