Cannabis Street Festival returns to Prince George just months after successful 4-20 event

“We’ve been successful two years in a row in Kelowna. We wanted to bring our event around to other areas of the province and showcase other areas and bring that revenue, that $350,000 to the community,” said a Director of the BC Craft Farmers Co-op Nadine Furnell.

While local cannabis growers certainly have much to gain from street festivals, it’s not just strictly cannabis related, as many other businesses were also displaying their wares and products. Similar to a beer garden that has many family friendly businesses and events, Furnell explained Dancing in the Street Summer Fest had a 19+ consumption zone for adults, but also many things for families to enjoy. One such business was Press-on Paws, a press-on nail business showcasing many different designs for all ages. Press-on Paws owner Katrina Kole said she had a lot of fun showcasing her products to many people, and it’s also a fantastic opportunity for her young business too.

“It’s definitely a great way to get started, and compared to just posting on social media, looking at all these markets and all these events this year, I’ve made huge, huge progress,” Kole said.

“it makes a big difference compared to just selling on my page. Actually being able to be out here and let people meet us and see our stock, it’s a great opportunity,” she continued.

“These (festivals) are the heartbeat of every community. Shopping local and keeping your money within your town and supporting small businesses,” Kirkpatrick said, on the note of all the local businesses at the festival.

While supporting local businesses and growers is certainly a huge focus of these festivals, education and destigmatizing cannabis is also a key element, as organizers say normalizing cannabis consumption is vital for helping grow cannabis tourism and the local economy.

“By doing these events, we do get to market our products, but we also get to educate everybody. People don’t need to be afraid of the plant, they don’t need to be afraid that it’s a drug. We just got to get out there and make sure that people understand. And just as easy as it is to go to the beer garden when you’re at a music festival, you can stop and consume (cannabis) when you’re at a festival as well,” said an Event Organizer and owner of Count Canna Michelle Cozzuol.

Regarding education, Furnell adds there is a big misconception she hopes to clear up, being that cannabis is all about THC. She hopes events like this and the educational materials that are at these festivals can help shed light on the other components of cannabis.

“THC is one minor component of the cannabis plants, and that’s where you get the education with the terpenes and the entourage effect and the benefits of CBD and things like that,” Furnell said.

“Cannabis is medicine for many people. And that’s where we feel that we can break the stigma by educating the people,” she continued.

With how popular the last two festivals have been, and how cannabis tourism continues to grow in B.C., Furnell said more street festivals and events like this are planned and we will most likely see another one in Prince George in the not so distant future.

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by Tommy Osborne

Cannabis Street Festival returns to Prince George just months after successful 4-20 event

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