Sault Ste. Marie’s 103rd Rotaryfest opened July 16 at Clergue Park under hazy skies, with organizers shutting down most activities by noon due to heavy wildfire smoke from northwestern Ontario that pushed the air quality to the highest risk level.
The Rotary Club of Sault Ste. Marie closed the children’s play areas, food court, and all music stages after Environment Canada’s Air Quality Health Index hit 10+ — the Very High Risk category. The popular Ribfest remained open, and despite the published policy closing the midway at this level, the Gable Bros. midway also stayed open, starting up at 6 p.m.
Festival organizers check air quality twice daily, with updates posted on the Rotaryfest website and social media at 9 a.m. and noon each day. Their published plan sets three tiers: when the index is low, everything runs normally; at moderate levels, children’s activities, the midway, and music stages close but Ribfest stays open; and when the index climbs to high or very high, the food court, mini putt, and car show also close, with only Ribfest officially remaining — though on opening day organizers opted to keep the midway running as well.
The smoke that blanketed the city left ash on vehicles and a thick haze over the St. Mary’s River. The closures included the Tenaris PlayZone, GFL Inflatable Park, mini putt, and the Rotary Food Court. Vendors were allowed to decide for themselves whether to stay open.
One big question mark hangs over Friday’s free EDM night at the Downtown Plaza. Billed as Stage 3 and presented by BMI Group, the electronic dance music event is still listed on the schedule, but organizers will make the call based on Friday’s noon air quality reading. The festival runs through July 18.
