The West End's big summer bash is set for Sunday.
The annual 12th Street Music Festival is happening on Aug. 5, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., between Sixth and 10th avenues. The event includes dancing and live music, with bands Incognito, Funk Delicious, Hot Club of Mars, Java Jazz and Blue Express,.
Coun. Chuck Puchmayr is helping organize the street festival, and he expects it to be bigger than last year.
"The number of vendors has doubled from last year," he said.
Another change this year, Puchmayr said they are bringing in a large petting zoo.
"We have 11 teachers from the Queen's Park Daycare who will do face painting," he said. "There's some incredible artists; there's going to be clowns, and there's going to be a lot of crafts for the kids."
Puchmayr isn't just an organizer, he's also one of the performers. He plays the harmonica in Blue Express.
The West End Business Association organizes the event with support from the City of New Westminster, Assist 2 Sell - the main sponsor, and a number of other sponsors, including The Record.
The city's financial grant this year is $1,500, down from $2,000 the previous year, but Puchmayr said its additional support is significant.
"The city is really the biggest sponsor of this event," he said. "The in-kind donations that are given is huge."
But he also noted the private sponsors.
"To me, it's a real model of how festivals can go," he said. "Sponsors want to be involved. I think there's an avenue there
to look at how we do these kinds of things."
Residents who want to take in some music and family friendly fun are encouraged to go west this weekend.
