Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu is questioning the future of its International Hot Air Balloon Festival, the gathering which serves as a showcase for the municipality, we have learned The Press.
The paramunicipal organization, whose deficits Saint-Jean must face almost every year, is preparing to meet with local elected officials in order to try to conclude a new agreement with the City.
“We have not made a decision to know what the future of the festival is, but we are asking ourselves serious questions, I cannot hide it from you,” said municipal councilor Sébastien Gaudette, Wednesday, in a telephone interview with The Press. Mr. Gaudette sits on Mayor Andrée Bouchard’s executive committee, in addition to representing the City on the Festival’s board of directors.
“Every year, the Festival is in deficit and the City must support it with several hundred thousand dollars,” he continued. “We ask ourselves questions: is this festival still viable considering the economic situation we are currently experiencing and considering that money is scarce for all taxpayers? »
The event showed losses of several hundred thousand dollars in 2022, despite ideal weather conditions. The results of the 2023 edition are not yet known, but the weather spoiled most of the planned hot air balloon flights. “Are we going to continue to take on deficits like this every year? The answer is no,” said the elected official.
He mentions a real “additional pressure” on the municipal budget. This amounted to 200 million in 2023.
“Normal process”
The Festival declined the interview request from The PressWednesday.
“Like all major events in Quebec, the 2023 edition of the International Balloon Festival of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu was faced with an explosion in production and labor costs, as well as to unfavorable weather,” said Julie Brault, general director, in a message sent by her press officer. “Discussions will take place very soon with the City to define its contribution as part of the renewal of our memorandum of understanding for 2024.”
The message assures that ticketing and sponsorship revenues were on the rise in 2023.
Jean Fontaine, municipal councilor and president of the board of directors of the Festival, did not call back The Press.
The mayor of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu also refused to speak to us. Its communications manager, Mathieu Paradis, indicated that a “normal process of renewing the memorandum of understanding” was underway. “Elected officials will analyze the needs identified and decide on the next steps,” he added.
Mr. Gaudette said he hoped the festival could continue, but perhaps in another form. He evokes the scenario of a smaller festival, moved to downtown Saint-Jean: “We have to get used to the idea that the business model may need to be reviewed from A to Z .”
The International Hot Air Balloon Festival was created in 1984. By multiplying large-scale shows – particularly by international artists – the festival has become one of the most important in Quebec.