Event organizers keeping close eye on triple digit heat
VISALIA, Calif. (KFSN) -- On Tuesday night, a well-known Bakersfield attorney collapsed during the middle of a 5K race. He died a short time later-- some say the race should have been cancelled. Since then, the heat has not let up, and is on the minds of various event organizers throughout the Valley. That includes Main Street Hanford, which runs the Thursday Night Market Place.
"It's just too hot," said Thursday Night Market Place Manager Michelle Brown.
Brown says they made the decision to cancel this week's event. It's the first time they've ever cancelled due to extreme heat.
"We are concerned about our vendors, our volunteers," she said. "The asphalt yesterday was about 140 degrees, and we're on the street."
The market, which includes around 100 vendors, draws thousands of people to Downtown Hanford. That means an uptick in business for stores like Castaways Consignments.
Owner Tracey Brazil supports the market's cancellation Thursday, she offered cold water to customers.
"We haven't had a strong heat wave like this in years, so you think you can get out in it, but you can't," she said. "So safety first, I think that's a good idea."
"We kick it off with live bands, DJ's, and a drag show throughout the rest of the day
Visalia Pride will take place at the old lumberyard on Saturday. It will still be hot, so organizers say they will be selling ice-cold water for $1. They say they'll have plenty of ways to cool people off.
"It's something we've been anticipating," said Nick Vargas, with The Source LGBT+ Center. "So the space itself has a lot of shade around it but where there is not shade, we're having shade brought in." "So we're having pop up tents, umbrellas...we're having some of our volunteers go around and mist people with water who want to be misted."
For more information about Hanford's Thursday Night Market Place, or Visalia Pride:
Thursday Night Market Place
