Some business owners in Antigonish, N.S., are lamenting the loss of the Evolve Festival this summer, saying the move to New Brunswick means noticeably less money in the local economy.

The Municipality of the County of Antigonish revoked the music festival's special event licence in April after organizers failed to submit a medical plan.

That's when the decision was made to move the event to a farm between Clairville, N.B., and Beersville, about a half hour north of Moncton.

'Economic gift'

Daniel Ross, former chair of the Chamber of Commerce in Antigonish, said the festival was an "economic gift" to the town and province, and he's embarrassed that officials let it go without a fight.

"I don't care what it was," Ross said. "It could have been a Star Trek, dress-up, sabre-fighting cult. If 5,000 people go to it, you should pay attention."

He said the festival was attended primarily by young people, and that made the establishment nervous.

"We'd rather fiddles than DJs. That's just the way we are, and it's not helping my business," Ross said.

Competitive advantage

Despite the relocation, Ross said his company, Ross Screenprint Ltd. in Antigonish, was still invited to produce festival merchandise such as shirts, tank tops and hoodies for this year's festival. But he's concerned the partnership won't last.

Daniel Ross says he worried his company. Ross Screenprint Ltd., will lose its competitive advantage in producing festival merchandise for Evolve now that the festival has moved to New Brunswick. (Daniel Ross)

"Now I don't have a competitive advantage, right? Now I have to do more work to still be a convenient supplier," Ross said. "It might happen someday that someone closer to the area gets the work and it will have a huge impact on me."

Less traffic

Meghan Peters, owner of the Tall and Small Cafe in downtown Antigonish, said she used to benefit from festival traffic before, during, and after the festival, but she saw a "significant decrease" in her sales this summer.

We'd rather fiddles than DJs ... and it's not helping my business, - Daniel Ross

The owner of Homeward Inns of Canada, Gary Cusack, said the festival used to mean "very, very good business" for his 43-unit hotel. He said he worries about the impact of the relocation on his business in the long-term.

Extra costs

Alexandre Calestagne, co-owner of a food truck called the Waffle Bus and a restaurant called the Waffle Bus Stop, said he and his wife have sold food on the Evolve Festival grounds for the past five years, and sales were improving each year.

He said they tried to make it to New Brunswick for the festival this summer, but couldn't handle the logistics with young children to care for at home in Antigonish — not to mention the extra costs associated with travel and accommodations.

Calestagne estimated the relocation meant a 25-per cent drop in summer festival revenues for his business this summer.