K-Days

Yesterday Edmonton Northlands revealed the new look for Edmonton’s summer festival K-days. The name was selected by public vote this summer after years of dissatisfaction with the “Capital Ex” moniker that Northlands had arbitrarily laid on the City years ago. Given the public’s name choice, Northlands has developed the “brand” Seeing the new brand I am left wondering “Has Northlands dropped the ball again”?

My first impression on seeing the new promotion was that it had something to do with Special K cereal – perhaps a new logo for the front of their box. It really seemed to be lacking something – nothing that I saw suggested Edmonton, nor our history. It seemed to try to appeal to everyone – I wonder if it will strike a chord with anyone.

The name K-days is a derivative on Edmonton’s long time festival Klondike days which celebrated the historical era when Edmonton was born. That historical theme was something special and although it did get watered down and almost forgotten at the end of the 20th century, it still was an interesting and concrete theme.

I liked the idea that the “new” name “K-days” wasn’t tying us down to the historical “Klondike” theme but rather left the door open to other, supplementary interpretations of “K”. Still, I have to believe that it was the old theme, that was in the back of people’s minds when they voted for the K-days” name. I find it hard to believe that Edmontonians just have some weird fixation on the letter”K”.

Whatever else the “K” might stand for, the “Klondike” theme should not be forgotten and should be the root, the uniquely Edmonton, theme. Unfortunately it seems like the folks at Northlands, seem set on having nothing to do with the historical theme. After appearing to hear Edmontonians last summer, it seems that they are now just pushing through with their old idea for a generic, “nothing-special” fair (kind of like what they tried to do in the Capital Ex era)

If the theme is everything – then the theme is nothing!

On of the big items for discussion in Edmonton in this summer of 2012, is what to call the annual summer fair. For years it was “Klondike Days” or K-days. Five years ago Northlands, who run the show, arbitrarily decided to rename the 10-day event to Capital Ex. Although not everyone liked the name Klondike Days, I’ve yet to hear anyone who really likes the current name. To Northlands credit, they have heard the people and finally relented. They have asked for public opinion/voting on 6 proposed names. These names are:

EdFest
The Edmonton Exhibition
Edmonton Summer Exhibition
K-Days
River City Festival
River City Summer Fair

My thoughts?

EdFest – “Who’s Ed?” – it’s bound to be asked – often! Isn’t there already a music festival using this name? This one just leaves me cold.

Edmonton Exhibition – Too 1940’s; not looking forward. When I was a kid, it was “The Exhibition” that we were going to. The actual exhibiting of things is not what it used to be and is a very small part of the activities.

Edmonton Summer Exhibition – Pretty generic and implies there are other seasonal exhibitions. Same general criticisms of using “Exhibition”.

K-Days – Note that it is not “Klondike” Days. I always liked the Klondike theme, although critics pointed out that Edmonton was not in the Klondike, nor was it on a popular route to the Klondike. The City was however born in that era and for that reason I thought the title appropriate (and it was a fun theme while it lasted and great while people and businesses bought into it). Just using K-days does allow us to harken back to the Klondike theme, but it also leaves the door open to find something new that the “K” can stand for.

River City Festival – While I absolutely love our river valley and believe it to be an absolute jewel for this city, the fact is that virtually every community is built up around a river (stream etc.). No one outside of Edmonton will think of Edmonton as THE river city.

River City Summer Fair – same criticism of use of “River” in the title , plus “Fair” is just so small town.

Of these six, I support K-Days. I somehow sense that we don’t have the ideal name amongst these six, but don’t have a better one either. Any of these will be an improvement over Capital Ex. Lets choose one, stick with it and make it work!

Do you have your own opinion? You can vote (until 2012 July 28th at 6 PM) for your favorite name at: http://nameyourfair.ca/

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