Summerfest revellers enjoy the fare from 26 city restaurants in the Food Pavillion along George Street and 7th Avenue. Photos 250 News

Prince George, B.C. – Summerfest, with its hugely-popular Taste Pavillion, was an enormous hit Sunday as thousands of people, numbers no doubt bolstered by wildfire evacuees from Cariboo communities, converged on George Street in front of City Hall.

Downtown Prince George has been running the event, with the Taste Pavillion, since 2011 and Executive Director Colleen Van Mook says “it’s always exciting when people come downtown to Summerfest.”  She said a few downpours and gusty winds did not dampen the atmosphere.  “We had a little bit of rain but we’re hardy folk and people are here having a good time.”

She called the food from more than two dozen restaurants in the city “amazing.  Twenty-six restaurants doing a bang-up job with ticket sales brisk and the food going fast.”

The day also included some great live musical entertainment from artists such as the Steel Wheels Blues Band from right here in Prince George, the magic shows of Dr Von Houligan and his Carnival of Calamaties, train rides, vendors and lots of activities for the kids.

Local group the Steel Wheels Blues Band entertains the crowd at Summerfest

Van Mook says “we’re happy to see families here and put the welcome mat out to (unintended) visitors to come downtown and have a good time with us.”

So, has anything changed this year over last?  “Well, we’ve had a lot of people wanting to be part of it,” she says.  “We have 69 exhibitors who came out, last year we had 50.  Lots of people were asking to be part of our entertainment, although we can only have so many.  We’re looking forward to next year when we can have more.”

“The Taste Pavillion, it just works.  The 26 restaurants are up from 23 last year, so we just know that people love their food, the downtown, and they love to be with their friends and families.”

Skies may have threatened at times “but we’re hardy folk” says Colleen Van Mook

Van Mook says she’s quite satisfied with this year’s event.  “Very much so, and our sponsors they’re tremendous and when we reach out and ask them to be part of our event they don’t hesitate for a moment.  We have businesses from throughout the community who want to be part of Summerfest because they know having a great downtown is part of having a great Prince George.”