"It might be the last one we ever do but we'll certainly make it worthwhile." Last week, the beleaguered group took a big hit when executive director Loren Lieberman stepped down. He had big ambitions to take the festival nationwide but said his plans were hampered by a lack of support from the city.

"The last couple of years have been excellent festivals, contrary to the staff at city hall who don't feel it's a very good festival at all," said Renaud.

There is interest in Vancouver and Calgary to bring in a franchised Festival of Friends, said Renaud. It's the biggest free arts and music event in the country, with a budget of $1.1 million. Creative Arts wants the city to kick in $130,000, but indications are it will get about $68,000 in this year's delayed budget. That matches last year's amount but is about $40,000 less than in 2001. The city can't afford to increase funding to the Festival of Friends, said Councillor Bill Kelly, who sits on the grants sub-committee.