Festival goes on, rain or shine

By REBECCA NEAL
Staff Writer 

Festival officials are hoping rain won’t affect this year’s plans. 

“We go on like it won’t cause us problems, but in reality it probably will,” said John Albright, the festival’s logistics coordinator. 

Since the main stage is covered, most of those acts should continue in the case of rain. 

“The only worry is lightening, with all that metal,” Albright said. 

He said there are also tents set up at Constitution Square that could provide shelter for the musicians. Other events, however, are less able to weather a storm. 

“The picnic goes on, rain or shine. There’s not time to reschedule it,” he said. The balloon race will be rescheduled for liftoff at 7 p.m. Sunday if it is rained out Friday night. If the church service Sunday is rained out, it will be moved from the Centre College Main Stage just outside Cowan Dining Hall to Newlin Hall at Norton Center for the Arts. 

“We’re telling our staffers about our alternative plans and will tell local radio stations too so they can announce it,” he said.

The parade will also go on in rain, if it is safe for performers.

“The bands make the decision whether to participate,” Albright said. 

Some ponchos will be available for sale at the festival marketplace, though he said it’s best for festivalgoers to come prepared. 

“Too many umbrellas can obscure the view of the stage from the lawn, so we try to encourage more rain jackets and things like that,” he said. 

In the end, it all comes down to what’s happening in the skies. 

“We wait until the last minute to see what the weather’s doing right then. Our schedule is so busy we can’t postpone or reschedule many events,” he said. 

Festival attendees can also judge the likelihood of a change in plans, Albright said. 

“The best bet is to look at the skies and depending on the weather, remember the alternative plans,” he said. 

This story ran in the Advocate on June 13, 2003.