Apr 08, 2009 - 10:33 AM

By Chris Hall

PORT PERRY -- A local merchant group is hoping to bring a British invasion of sorts to Port Perry's downtown core this summer.

As part of its efforts to liven up Scugog's commercial core during summer weekends, the Port Perry Downtown BIA pitched an ambitious proposal before Scugog's elected leaders on Monday, introducing the idea of bringing a classic British car show to Queen Street in August.

Dubbed the 'Brits on the Lake' festival, the plan calls for the day-long closure of Queen Street, between Water and John streets, on Aug. 9 to showcase traditional British cars and motorcycles from the 1950s, 60s and 70s.

The idea is similar to the wildly successful 'Brits in the Park' event held each summer in Lindsay, which attracts thousands of spectators and hundreds of owners keen to show off their classic English wheels.

"We think it would be a great event to attract people to downtown Port Perry," the BIA's Julie Brock told Scugog councillors at the April 6 municipal committees meeting.

Such an event, added Paul Arculus, a Scugog historian and author well-known for his passion for British cars, would likely attract an "up-market group of people" to Port Perry. It would be an ideal day destination perhaps for a couple who could split up and do some shopping and car-viewing at the same time, he added.

"I think it has tremendous potential," said Mr. Arculus.

The BIA's proposal also included live entertainment in front of the Port Perry Post Office on Queen Street and the opportunity for local merchants to extend their businesses for the day out onto the street.

The merchant group is also looking to perhaps partner with the Scugog Council of the Arts to add some demonstrations and displays to the mix, and will see if there's a chance that an automotive art show could be displayed at the nearby Kent Farndale Gallery to run in conjunction with the event.

The theme for the inaugural 'Brits on the Lake' event, added Ms. Brock, could feature a Hawaiian atmosphere. As well, funds raised from the event through sales of refreshments and leis would be passed along to a local non-profit group, such as the Port Perry Hospital Foundation, she said.

Scugog's elected officials quickly seemed to get revved up by the idea, agreeing that introducing a new festival to Port Perry would benefit everyone involved.

"I don't know how we could say no," said Scugog Mayor Marilyn Pearce. "This is a new festival in the time of year that we absolutely need a new festival. It sounds extremely exciting."

The 'Brits on the Lake' event, explained Ms. Brock, is the start of what the BIA hopes will be regular Sunday closures of Queen Street during the summer season. The plan, she said, is to create different events each weekend in Port Perry's downtown core in an effort to continually attract tourists.

In the long-term, explained Ms. Brock, the BIA would like to hold an event on Queen Street "every Sunday so that downtown Port Perry becomes known as a place to go on Sundays... so that people know something's always going on."

Shutting down the commercial core's main street each Sunday would be "a huge change" and such a move would most likely require an open house and input from the public, added Mayor Pearce.

Stewart Bennett, the BIA's president, also told councillors that the organization is looking at partnering up with businesses and other groups to bring back popular past community events such as 'Western Days' and 'Heritage Days', as well as host further car and art shows.