Laketown Ranch has obtained a Liquor Primary Licence from the Province of BC.
The Lake Cowichan venue that’s home to Sunfest Country Music Festival, Laketown Shakedown and the Cowichan Valley Bluegrass Festival will now be able to offer a wider range of beverage services and amenities.
“The acquisition of the Liquor Primary Licence is a game-changer for Laketown Ranch,” said Laketown Ranch Festival Director Mike Hann. “We are committed to providing our guests with an unparalleled event experience. This licence allows us to expand our offerings and align ourselves with the best in North America.”
Until now, Laketown Ranch was required to apply for a Special Events Permit for each event. Those permits have specific service limits and restrictions that the new licence does not. The Liquor Primary Licence opens the door for Laketown Ranch to host more events over the summer. Hann says that with the new licence, the venue can now offer space for different types of events like licensed markets and culinary events. The smaller events will create more opportunities for regional and touring musicians to perform.
“Each year, thousands of people visit Laketown Ranch for its concerts and events,” said Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport Minister Lana Popham. “This liquor primary licence is the first of its kind in Western Canada and expands B.C.’s reputation as a unique and world-class event destination for residents and visitors.”
The application for the liquor primary licence was an eight-year process for the venue.
A change festival goers may notice will be the introduction of a happy hour at Sunfest and Laketown Shakedown featuring discounted drink prices between 3pm and 6pm.
Laketown Shakedown 2024 takes place Friday June 28 to Saturday June 30, 2024 featuring headliners Gwen Stefani, Busta Rhymes and Jesse Roper. Sunfest 2024 goes from Thursday August 1 to Sunday August 4, 2024 headlined by Keith Urban, Lee Brice, Cole Swindell and The Washboard Union. The Cowichan Valley Bluegrass Festival will be held at Laketown Ranch Friday June 14 to Sunday June 16, 2024.
For festival ticket information go to laketownshakedown.com, sunfestconcerts.com and cowichanbluegrass.com
For more information about Laketown Ranch or rent the venue, go to laketownranch.com
