Sunshine Expected for Arts Fest Celebration

By

StateCollege.com Staff

–

July 9, 2014 – 7:30 am

With tens of thousands heading to State College this week for Arts Fest there’s good news on the weather front: Sunshine and heat are expected.

“In general the weather is looking pretty good,” AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Tom Kines says. “It should make for a nice festival.”

The Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts will bring some large crowds to town from July 9-13. The outdoor festival depends on nice weather so visitors can enjoy the food, art and performers.

Kines says temperatures Wednesday should be in the upper 70s, with lower humidity. There could be rain and a thunderstorm in the afternoon in parts of Centre County but it won’t last long.

The forecast for Thursday and Friday is “looking great,” Kines says. The temperature will be in the upper 70s, with comfortable humidity and partly cloudy skies.

Over the weekend, the humidity will rise again, as will the temperature — it’s expected to be in the lower 80s. There is a risk of rain and thunderstorms, although the chances are higher on Sunday.

The festival’s executive director, Rick Bryant, says he is excited about this week’s forecast. Although he always hopes for sunny weather there is always a plan in case of the rain.

Bryant says festival planners have worked with police, fire companies and the borough to plan safety procedures regarding the weather and the emergency situations that could arise.

“We play through except in the most the extreme circumstances,” Bryant says. “If it’s unsafe for the audiences, we’ll shut [the festival] down temporarily.”

Bryant says in the last few years, it’s been easier for artists and performers to adjust to the weather because almost everyone has a smartphone and can follow the forecast.

Depending on what artists are displaying, if they see rain coming, they put their work away on their own, Bryant says. “[Artists] can see the weather coming. They know what to do.”

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