The most successful year of Party in the Park is coming to an end.

After eight events and well over 6,000 visitors to the Chilliwack Community Central Park, the downtown BIA, local sponsors, night market vendors, and entertainers are planning to end the summer season with a bang.

“The fun thing about the finale this year is that we’re going to have a minimum of ten acts,” said Trevor McDonald, a local artist who organizes the entertainment for the event. “I’m really shooting for upwards of 15 acts, even more towards 20. It’s really going to be something to see.”

At 6 p.m. the music will start, with local bands The Blendurz, Pardon My Striptease, James Knight, Dirty Jim and Blonde Sonya to name a few. Also performing at the final party in the park are Relics Jetboat, Todd Richard and Gregg Storm.

The prize draws will be bigger and the night market will be in full swing. And better yet, the forecast looks promising.

“If we don’t see 3,000 people there I would be very disappointed,” said McDonald. “I’d really like to see Chilliwack come out in full force. And that includes everybody, I don’t care if you’re from Sardis, Cultus Lake, Rosedale, or Greendale get out there and support the arts because it’s going to be a great night.”

Although 3,000 attendees sounds steep, it’s not unattainable. The peak attendance at the event this summer was just over 3,000 people and the lowest was just above 1,200.

“Definitely without a doubt from all accounts this has been the most successful year,” said McDonald. “It all comes down to the sponsors, the vendors, the music and the volunteers. But also Chilliwack. It’s a Chilliwack event that’s been fully supported by the Chilliwack people.”

The high attendance isn’t the only first for the party in the park. This year the Chilliwack Musicians Co-op scholarship was started.

Each band that performed took a pay cut to put that money towards the scholarship fund, explained McDonald.

“Everyone happily agreed to take the cut when they realized what the money was going towards,” said McDonald, who started up the scholarship. The goal is to raise $1,000 for a Chilliwack Senior Secondary male, and $1,000 for a female from the same school to put towards music and the arts.

"It’s something I wanted to do because when I was younger I couldn’t afford to go to any kind of follow up school, so without a scholarship or any kind of extra funding you’re usually forced to call it quits,” said McDonald. “And now this gives students the opportunity to get some extra money to put towards some studies and opens up some doors.”

The idea was to award students in the downtown area because the party in the park is a downtown event. And after just a few months of raising funds, the kitty is at nearly $1,800. The scholarships won’t be handed out until next June after the judging process is complete.

The planning process has already started for next years party in the park to make it bigger and better, said McDonald.

Although the general format will be the same, the family fun zone is going to grow, and hopefully the night market will as well, said McDonald.

“We’re going to fit as much talent on stage as we can,” said McDonald. “I will do my best to make sure it’s comparable to this year, but this summer has set a very high standard. We’re looking forward to a spectacular party in the park 2010.”