Rock’n August will not be cancelled due to the pandemic; the format has changed to ensure a safe and fun event. Now in its 24th year, the event is set to thrill event guests from August 4-8 with its rock and roll theme and classic cars.
“At first, our assumption was that Rock'n August would have to be cancelled as it is typically a large public event with thousands visiting different activities throughout a normal week,” explains Bill Isley, President of Rock’n August. “As the province determined that some restraints could be loosened, we saw an opportunity to continue growing the legacy of our 24-year history and remind people that a festival of music and classic cars is an exciting way to spend a week in the summer. Of course, we knew it was not possible to offer our usual programming, but we determined that we could keep the spirit and intent alive by focusing on the needs of classic car attendees who are anxious to get out and enjoy their rides. To this end we are hosting activities that respect physical distancing while allowing people to still participate in fun and meaningful ways.”
Bill discusses what to expect this season. “All registrations are handled online, and the community can contribute to diabetes research fundraising by purchasing 50-50 tickets or making a donation directly.”
Many are thrilled to see the timely return of an old Rock’n August favourite – the drive-in movie theatre.
“This has been absent for the last five years or so but in this environment, a ‘stay in your car’ solution for an activity makes it a great choice for now,” says Bill of the drive-in movie. “Drive-ins create a great deal of nostalgia and have a strong connection for car owners who remember attending them in their younger years.”
The response to changes has been positive so far, and the Rock’n August organizers are hoping the event will benefit local businesses too. Bill notes, “In an effort to stimulate business involvement we are encouraging participants to stay in town after events and take advantage of many of the services available to them in St. Albert. A new initiative this year sees a number of restaurants and pubs offering Rock'n August specials throughout the week. These businesses are identified on our website. We are offering some unique merchandise that subtly recognizes this Rock’n August as ‘the year that almost never was,’ as shown on our souvenir button. We also have a great image on our t-shirts; all is available for purchase online.”
Bill concludes, “This is a great year to escape (at least mentally) to happier times. This has always been part of the appeal of Rock'n August. As our community looks to re-launch, we have carefully orchestrated opportunities for local businesses to benefit from this event by increasing traffic to their establishments. Although there are fewer events where the community can gather, there will be ample opportunities to see hundreds of classic cars throughout the city over the course of the five days, and wrap it up with two great family-friendly movie options.” Rock’n August takes place August 4-8, 2020. Learn more at https://www.rocknaugust.com/
