BY LINDA JUMP
FLORIDA TODAY


PALM BAY — The Big Squeeze Festival is canceled because of the construction of Lowe’s near the event site and the city’s withdrawal of sponsorship. The event was scheduled for April 3 to 6.

“We look forward to a bigger and better Big Squeeze in 2009,” said Kathleen Bishop, executive director of the Greater Palm Bay Chamber of Commerce, the primary sponsor.

The festival began in 2000 and is held at the Palm Bay campus of Brevard Community College. Lowe’s is under construction off San Filippo Drive near the entrance to the college, with heavy equipment going to and from the site.

Last year, more than 20,000 attended the three-day festival, which in 2000 was declared by then-Gov. Jeb Bush as “the official juice festival of Florida.” The festival features free juice samples, a carnival, an orange-squeezing and other contests, children’s activities, food and live entertainment.

In the past, city staff, working with volunteers, did the setup and cleanup. The city provided its mobile stage free and provided other services. Last fall, city officials decided to cut back on the number of holiday and cultural events they sponsored as the city council revised the special events ordinance.

Not including waived fees, city officials estimated they would save $9,475 by pulling its sponsorship of the juice festival.

Bishop said with board approval, other events may be held in its place.

Source: http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080212/BREAKINGNEWS/80212059/1086