UPDATE: The decision has been made to move the festival to Dave Barr Arena.
If the weather forecast is right and Grande Prairie is in for a weekend of heavy rain, the International Street Performers Festival has a plan. Co-chairman Clyde Blackburn says if it is raining Friday morning, the event will set up inside Dave Barr Arena instead of downtown.
“You can expect to see everything we had planned for our new venue downtown: feature acts, roving acts, face painting, balloon twisting, food and merchandise vendors and the ATB Financial KidZone.”
Environment Canada is predicting up to 100 millimetres of rain in the city by Sunday morning. Festival organizer Wayne Ayling says they are grateful the City of Grande Prairie and the Dave Barr Arena are willing to help last-minute.
“This is the first time in our 18- year history that we’ve been threatened with rain for the entire weekend. The show must go on and we will welcome everyone to come to the Dave Barr Arena to enjoy the fabulous performers that have come from around the world to entertain us here.”
No matter the location, the entertainment will start Friday at 4:30 p.m. and continue until 6 p.m. Sunday. If downtown, 101 Avenue from 102 Street to 100 Street, and 101 Street from 102 Avenue to 100 Avenue will be closed to traffic during that time.