BEACHBURG — An event at the Beachburg Arena wasn’t as successful as the organizer had been hoping for. As a matter of fact, Dave Arbour said, “I’m very disappointed. I don’t know if the exhibitors will come back. It will be very difficult to get them to come back.”
Mr. Arbour organized a Gun and Hunting Show at the Beachburg Arena, held last Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
He was hoping for at least 1,000 people to attend the event, and only about 600 attended.
“Normally I get at least 1,000 people, sometimes more,” Mr. Arbour said.
He recalled that arena manager Hugh Martin had called and asked him to organize the show as a fundraiser for the arena. Saturday morning he said it would take about two shows to get the exhibitors to commit to the event, even if 1,000 people attended.
There were over 100 exhibitors, some from Quebec and southern Ontario, he said.
Throughout the first hour, Mr. Arbour said the crowd was steady.
“I’m hoping for 1,000 people and for the people (exhibitors) to sell,” he said at the time of the event. “If that happens, we’re in good stead for next year.”
Monday morning Mr. Arbour said while people from Whitewater Region may have supported the show, people from Pembroke did not. He also suggested it could have been the time of year.
However, with the cost to bring the show to the arena, pay his employees and advertising, Mr. Arbour is pretty sure the show will not return to the Beachburg Arena next year.
“Maybe I’ll change my mind later, but right now, no, I’m not bringing it back,” he said.
