Ennis Bluebonnet Festival, Fort Worth Main Street Arts Festival canceled Saturday due to weather
ENNIS, Texas - The Ennis Bluebonnet Festival and Fort Worth Main Street Arts Festival were called off on Saturday afternoon due to rain and storms.
Fort Worth Main Street Arts Festival
The Fort Worth Main Street Arts festival closed shortly before 5 p.m. due to inclement weather.
Organizers hope the wash-out on Saturday means double the crowd on Sunday.
The few people who braved the rain in the morning were dressed in ponchos and rain boots while staying dry under their umbrellas.
"I’ve been telling people this is your chance to browse without the crowds," said Claire Armstrong, a spokesperson for the festival.
Armstrong didn't let the weather dampen her enthusiasm for the four-day event.
"I’m just glad that people are still coming out to support this event. It’s a true treasure to have this in our city,"she said.
This year, there are 213 exhibiting artists and organizers expect around 400,000 people to come out throughout the weekend.
Organizers were prepared for the Saturday storms.
"We have a complete emergency plan in place, we have a command operation center that works with the City of Fort Worth and the NWS and a storm spotter network to determine if and when we need to close," said Armstrong.
On Saturday morning, the threat of lightning kept live music off the stage and the artists booths were open until the rain forced the festival to close at 5 p.m.
"It started out slow but then it picked up. Even today has been good up until now," said artist George Ceffalio.
It is Ceffalio's second year displaying his work at the festival.
"This always comes up in conversation as one of the best art fairs in the country and it always lives up to it’s reputation," he said.
Ceffalio doesn't mind the rain, but since the festival closed, he's packing up his booth to get ready for Sunday.
"I think tomorrow will be a good makeup day, so everybody’s looking at the maps and saying, oh, we’ll go tomorrow," he said.
When the weather does cooperate people can check out the art, hear live music and enjoy kids activities.
"It’s sad, it really is sad for me. I’m just hopeful that Sunday will make up for it," said Armstrong.
The festival will resume at 10 a.m. Sunday and continue until 8 p.m.
Ennis Bluebonnet Festival
Ennis organizers made the decision shortly before 3 p.m. "for the safety of our guests, vendors and staff."
Earlier in the day, the festival delayed its opening due to the weather.
The Bluebonnet Trials Festival will continue on Sunday.
Flowers peaking for Ennis Bluebonnet Festival
While some of the roadside bluebonnets, or some you may have seen around your neighborhood peaked early, the majority of the flowers are peaking now in Ennis just in time for the Ennis Bluebonnet Festival. Ashley Colunga with the city of Ennis joined Good Day to talk about this weekend's festival featuring food, live music, arts and crafts, children's activities and 40 miles of bluebonnet trails.
Anyone who purchased a blue wristband for Saturday will get free admission to the festival on Sunday.