Weekend Event Organizers Scrambling | ABC30 Fresno

kfsn

By ABC30

Saturday, June 6, 2009

Fresno, CA At the Chaffee Zoo, it's dream night for children with disabilities. It gives them a chance to get behind the scenes tours and watch roving entertainment. Event organizers here and all around the Valley are hoping showers don't spoil a fun evening.

As stage is set for the Hye Fest at the Fulton Mall, Elliott Balch is worried about something he never thought might be a concern.

Seats will be ready for hundreds expected to have fun eating, drinking and celebrating Armenian culture. Organizers hope weather doesn't affect turnout.

Downtown Revitalization Mgr. Elliott Balch said, "We're also kinda doing the rain dance. We're going to be on rain or shine. It doesn't look like we're going to have much rain so it's gonna be great weather to be outside and enjoying things."

Portable misting stations are ready for athletes to cool off at the Track and Field State Championships at Buchanan High School, only the owner of "Liquid Shade" didn't expect such mild and even ideal weather.

Edic Sliva said, "We were invited to come to this event because historically it's been a very very hot weekend. Today happens to be cloudy and we're hoping for better or warmer weather tomorrow."

Eaton Plaza will be empty Friday night after opening night of Movies in the Park was cancelled. Organizers say the potential for showers was enough for them to just put off the free event this week.

Heather Heinks said, "The threat of thunderstorms is the real reason. There is no overhead protection, it's not like doing an event on the mall where there's businesses and other areas you can congregate if the weather's inclement it's on the grass as you can see and we want to be safe."

This event goes on until 8:00 p.m. Friday night. Most of the events planned in Fresno will go on even if it does rain. Lightning or thunder could change that though.