Patrons attending a music festival behind a Government Street brewery in Victoria next month will need to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination before entering the venue, making the festival the first local event of its kind with that requirement.
“When you’re putting on an event like this, safety is everything,” said Phillips Brewing and Malting Co. founder Matt Phillips, whose company is producing the event.
The Phillips Double Header will take place Sept. 10-11 in the rear lot of the Government Street brewery, and is expected to attract upwards of 3,000 fans per day. Rock acts Black Mountain and The Beaches will headline the two-day festival. Minors are not permitted at the festival, which will also feature music from U.S. Girls, Metz, and Teke::Teke.
“We don’t want to put on an event and find out that something went wrong which we could have prevented,” Phillips said. “If we’re hoping to offer people a good time, they have to know we are doing so without undue risk.”
Masks are encouraged but not mandatory on the festival site. In the absence of a government vaccination passport, Phillips said an individual vaccination card or comparable provincial documentation will meet entry requirements. Vaccination cards can be obtained online through healthgateway.gov.bc.ca.
The Phillips Double Header is the only event of its size with such measures currently in place. Attendees should expect a few wrinkles as event staff bring the new procedures into effect, Phillips said.
“We’re going to staff the event more heavily than we normally would so we can get people through the gates as quickly as we can. You always have to produce your ID at the door to prove your age for drinking, and now you’ll simply have to show another card.“
The province has not yet announced B.C.-wide protocols where vaccination passports are concerned, but many believe they are coming. Phillips felt it was important to give ticketholders ample warning of the entry requirements, so they can secure the proper documents.
“We might lose a few buyers [who aren’t vaccinated] by going this route, but at the end of the day, we’re doing this because we want to have a really positive experience when people come and visit us,” he said.
“In a month’s time, it will be weird to not have [a vaccination passport]. Everyone is trying to figure this out, but that is part of life with COVID-19 — figuring out what to change, and adapting to it. You can’t have a good time if you’re not comfortable in your environment.”
Further with regard to safety protocols will be announced in coming weeks.
