Although the forecast called for severe weather overnight, nothing occured to interfere with the French Quarter's biggest party of the year.
Festival organizers say they were ready for anything but, luckily, the storms passed and the party will proceed as planned Sunday.
Hours for the final day of French Quarter Festival begins today at 11 a.m. with music on all 23 stages, including performances by Sweet Crude, Amanda Shaw, Rockin' Dopsie, and James Andrews.
“We track the weather very far out and of course we build the festival to make sure the infrastructure is going to stay safe whether we're having strong winds or rain,” said Emily Madero, President and CEO of French Quarter Festivals Inc.
Madero told WWL-TV that the Quarter Fest is a rain or shine party and they're always prepared. Officials get daily briefs from the National Weather Service and Department of Homeland Security. All the tents and stages are also built with large concrete blocks and water barrels securing them to the ground.
“Fortunately, we have 36 years of experience doing this on the riverfront,” said Madero. “Everything is safe and certified up to 35 miles an hour. And, when we expect to have winds that are severe, we take down all of the scrims on the stages and tape off any areas so that the public can't enter there.”
Vendors say they’re ready too. Most bring tarps to cover their wares in case of nasty weather.