After 20 years at the Vancouver Art Gallery, thousands will light up on 4/20 at a different location this year.
Organizers of the mass marijuana protest/party say the annual event will be held at Sunset Beach this year because of increasing logistical problems at the VAG.
“We’ve really outgrown the Art Gallery,” said Dana Larsen, one of the organizers, in a statement.
“Over the past few years, we’ve been faced with very large crowds, and forced to shut down major downtown streets to accommodate the mass of people. The new location at Sunset beach will help ensure a safe, successful event with far less public disruption.”
The City of Vancouver and Vancouver Park Board are aware of the move – but that doesn’t mean it’s being officially endorsed.
“From the park board’s perspective, and I really want to stress this, this is an unsanctioned event, this is a non-permanent event, and it is classified as public protest. It really doesn’t fall under the jurisdiction of the park board,” said Park Board Chair Sarah-Kirby Yung.
“It doesn’t meet our standards for events. For one thing, we have a non-smoking bylaw.”
Approximately 20,000 people attended the event last year, when it cost cost the City of Vancouver an estimated $93,000.