Colusa officials have canceled plans to spend tens of thousands of dollars on another Country in Colusa music festival next month, opting instead to scale back its third city-sponsored event to a less expensive fall festival.
The news came at last week’s City Council meeting that the planned concert would be too taxing on city staff and city coffers, especially since time was running out to undertake such a substantial endeavor and book the entertainment.
The event ad hoc committee suggested the change, largely due to expense, said event organizer Fernanda Vanetta.
Vanetta, who along with city contractor Sadie Ash, was instrumental in bringing about the success of the Fourth of July festival and Taco Fest, which came in under budget.
“We felt the $65,000 right now was better served elsewhere in the community,” Vanetta said, referring to the most expensive of the three events.
The ad hoc committee recommended and City Council approved a $10,000 maximum budget for the Bikes, Brews, and Beats festival on Oct. 8, to coincide with the Colusa Lions’ 3-F (Flat, Fast, Fun) Century Bike Ride, which the club has organized for more than a dozen years as a fundraiser for local youth programs.
Ash said she doesn’t always look at city events as tied to tourism, but the Lions Club cycling event truly fits that bill.
“Cyclists go anywhere,” she said. “They have the income; they love to travel for the weekend. They don’t want to come and take over the city; they just want to come and enjoy it.”
Ash said choosing that day also better positions Colusa as a bike-friendly city and does what city-sponsored events are designed to do: bring people to town.
While the city budgeted $10,000 for the event, city staff will still seek donations to help offset the cost.
While the City of Colusa and Lions Club finalize the event, they do know the bike event will start at 6:30 AM and will include three races: 38 mile, 100k (63 miles), and 100 miles, with first place finishers expected to roll across the finish line around 11 AM.
The festival portion, currently in the planning process, may extend into the late afternoon and evening with live bands, cornhole tournament, bounce houses and kids activities, along with food and beer.
The city is also looking to partner with other local nonprofits for activities. For more information, contact City Hall at (530) 458-4941, 425 Webster St., Colusa. ■