Summer In The Park is changing venues.

The 2018 event will be held at Memorial Gardens and Thompson Park.

Councillor Derek Shogren says the decision was made before they learned there would be a $58,000 deficit from this years event.

He says holding the concerts at the gardens instead of outdoors is an advantage in several ways.

It assures a weather proof event but financial reasons too starting with not having to rent a stage.

“Memorial Gardens has one. That was a $30,000 cost to rent that every year. We’re not going to need port a potties as much because we have washrooms within Memorial Gardens and we used to have to get trailers for bands but now they’ll be able to use the dressing rooms,” he says.

Shogren says the move also means there will be concerts at the Gardens and admits a potential drawback could be that there will only be space for 4,800 people to see the concerts.

“This is going to be 4,800 committed people. I would say get your wrist bands early when the bands are announced. I have no doubt they’ll be sold out for Friday night and Saturday night,” he says.

Thomas Brown and Geoff Richardson have been named co chairs of the 2018 event.

(File photo)

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