9 replies to this topic

[Holden West]

Letter to the editor, Victoria News

Luminara called way too loud

Aug 09 2006

Luminara has come and gone for the seventh time at Beacon Hill park.

What was to be a peaceful, tranquil night with "oohs" and aahs" over festively decorated papier-mache animals, figurines and glowing into the vending was anything but.

From traffic jams to vendors selling art in the park, to donation being actively solicited, to all local neighbourhoods being overrun with vehicles, including areas that "state residential parking only," the piece de resistance.

Luminara is vaguely disguised and should really be called FolkFest II.

Loud amplified music by the petting zoo, horrible drums so loud they rattle my hearing aid.

Bands and musicians were overpowering each other from one end of the park to the other.

People were in flower beds, climbing over bushes and simply doing things not conducive to everyday life in the park.

Friends of Beacon Hill Park are right to state Luminara needs to be held elsewhere.

I agree and further, I say Luminara has strayed from its origins as to not be what they say it is.

David Desmarais

Victoria

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Mr Desmarais, if your hearing aid is rattling, may I suggest you turn it down? Folkfest II? Sounds good to me!

[G-Man]

When will these people give up. Most people like Luminara if you don't then don't go.

[Mike K.]

Is this fellow one of the "friends" of the park?

[Jada]

Although I love Luminara, maybe it should be moved to a place that can handle the traffic? Like maybe Royal Roads.

James Bay is too small to handle all that traffic, I can understand why the residents complain.

[Holden West]

You could close the surrounding streets to non-resident cars but I don't like events that require 10,000 cops on overtime doing traffic duty.

It could be moved to Westshore, true but you know what I think would happen? A rogue group of Victoria residents would continue with their own unauthorized Luminara anyway rather than fight traffic all the way out there. Walking to the Park appeals to the local residents and they're unlikely to have that taken away from them just because their neighbours complain about the cars from outside Fairfield.

[G-Man]

I hate these traffic arguments for stopping or moving festivals. I actually had a letter read on CBC this week regarding this issue, though my subject was the Symphony Splash. Ok what bizarre force allows thousands of Victorians to commute to Victoria on a daily basis but as soon as there is av event all this goes to hell and people freak out. First of all people need to think about whether they NEED to take their car. I have managed to never drive a car to an event in Victoria but I also managed to see the Fireworks in Vancouver as a teen and I lived in Delta even then I did not take a car.

Try parking a ten minute walk away if you really need to drive. I guarantee that there would have been lots of parking even during the event. How about showing up early if you need to be right there. Plan ahead go for dinner then go to the event. Mainly Victorians need to get off there lazy asses and not expect free festivals to be served to them on platter while they drive up to the front gates.

AGHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Mike K.]

^I'll take that.

[VicHockeyFan]

^^ I'll go with that too.

[HOMBRE]

he lost all credibility when he stated his hear aid was being rattled.

are you sure that wasn't your head as you live in the city for god's sake

[Galvanized]

I drove by an old man today on Niagra Street today and he covered up his ears. It could have been him! I wonder if they just need to turn the hearing aids down a bit?