A popular summertime event on the Sarnia and Port Huron waterfronts will not take place this year.
The International Powerboat Festival, a combination of "NASCAR on water" and musical acts and other festivities onshore, appears to have run its course, literally.
Founder Dave Brown, in a statement issued late Monday afternoon, says organizers have reluctantly chosen to call off the 2017 event. He says it was a very difficult decision to make.
"In order to keep our philosophy of free admission for spectators and visitors, we had to obtain sponsorship and at this point the sponsorship was slacking a bit last year and we thought it might be an issue this year," says Brown. "We asked for an indefinite sabbatical, at which point we'll review it on a year to year basis and go from there."
Brown also says the death of one of the festival's primary leaders, David McPhail, left a tremendous void.
The powerboat festival has taken place in August the past six years, attracting thousands to the Sarnia and Port Huron waterfronts.
-With files from Josh Boyce
