Exploits Valley Salmon Festival slightly over budget, 'good investment' says mayor

The mayor of Grand Falls-Windsor says this summer's Salmon Festival was a "good investment" and hebelieves the town has a "winning formula" following changes to the yearlyconcert.

"We had budgeted $50,000 this year to put off a Salmon Festival Thursday to Monday event," said Barry Manuel. "We ended up coming in about $7,900 over budget."

Manuel called the concert industry a "very difficult business to be in" but saidhe's "comfortable with the way things went this year."

• 'End of an era' for mega-concert Salmon Festival, after $1.1M loss in 2 years

• Salmon Festival 'not a devastating factor' in 2016 town budget, says mayor

The festivals in2014 and 2015lost a combined $1.1 million, leading to council's decision to put an end to the mega-concerts.

"Obviously it was well publicized the last couple years the financial difficulties of Salmon Festival," said Manuel. "We decided this year that we would downscale it but at the same time provide an excellent festival for people to go to."

2017 Salmon Festival Plans

Manuel said the town wants to continue with the concert by supporting local musicians. This year's line-up includedThe Once, Buddy Wasisname, Cabbages and Kings and Landlocked.

Canadian rock bands Trooper andThe Original Stampeders headlined the concert.

"We want to try to support our local musicians here in the province as much as possible, give them an opportunity to be showcased," said Manuel. "So in a lot of ways you really don't have to be going outside to provide a good concert."

Manuel said thetown council hopes to have a lineup in place as soon as possible.

"We said we will expect to spend $50,000 to provide this community festival and we will budget that going forward," said Manuel.

"If we happen to have an extra good concert with a lot of people coming in and we make a few bucks I think we look at that as a bonus."