Weather threatens festivals as vendors face headwinds

Weather threatens festivals as vendors face headwinds

Festival vendors affected by storms in KC last weekend face difficult decisions after losses some say could have been prevented.

Why it matters: It's been an especially tough weather year in KC, and storms are adding a layer of risk for small businesses and festival attendees.

Threat level: Storm chances remain a factor heading into the weekend, with a risk of severe weather on days with other planned community events.

Flashback: Sunday storms ripped through Irish Fest at Crown Center and SantaCaliGon Days in Independence last Sunday, damaging tents and merchandise.

  • The National Weather Service that morning posted a marginal risk for damaging storms across Western Missouri and Eastern Kansas.
  • At 4:40pm, the NWS upgraded to a severe thunderstorm watch for Northwest Missouri, including KC.
  • KSHB reported that NWS alerts reached Independence 15 minutes before the storms hit.

    • Irish Fest organizer Erin Gabert tells Axios they review severe weather plans yearly and were able to evacuate vendors more than an hour before the weather struck. 

    During the storm. Photo: Courtesy of April Ameling

    Valerie Byrnes, president of the Independence Chamber of Commerce and organizer of SantaCaliGon Days, told KSHB the changing weather — from brutal heat to punishing storms — made it tough.

  • Byrnes did not respond in time to our requests for comment.
  • The City of Independence announced the celebration's festival portion would not reopen Monday as planned.

    • Jennifer May, a full-time vendor from Parker, South Dakota, tells Axios that SantaCaliGon organizers should have been more proactive in communicating with vendors by sending mass texts or spreading the word in person.

  • "I won't be back," May tells Axios.

    • April Ameling, owner of GCC Tees in Northwest Arkansas, says she secured her tent with weights, but it wasn't enough.

  • "We could hear glass breaking and see tents and metal debris flying around us," she tells Axios, adding the experience will make her pay more attention to future festival organizers' severe weather plans.
  • "It's been incredibly detrimental, especially in this economy."

    • Between the lines: Festivals like these often don't provide refunds for inclement weather events.

  • And the costs keep coming. Both May and Ameling tell Axios they had to back out of future festivals due to the damage, including the Johnson County Old Settlers festival this weekend.

    • Context: It's been a record-breaking year for severe weather in Kansas City, and meteorologists have noticed unusually powerful storms as summer winds down.

    What we're watching: What will happen with this weekends' festivals, including Art Westport and Fiesta Hispana.