EASTON, Pa. – Memorial Day weekend showers did not cancel all events in the Lehigh Valley, but they sure did have an impact.
Now that the sun is shining, a rather dreary and rainy holiday weekend is in the rear view-mirror.
Despite the conditions, celebrations kicked off around the Lehigh Valley and organizers are talking about how the weather affected their attendance and finances.
In Lehigh County, lines formed at The Mayfair Festival of the Arts at Cedar Crest College in Allentown.
Visitors could be seen enjoying the festivities under cover, with raincoats and umbrellas. But organizers said the weather took a toll on the three-day long event, averaging sales to be down 43% from last year.
In Northampton County, weekend-long events also transformed downtown Easton.
The city hosted its annual Memorial Day Parade. Veterans, first responders and community leaders marched through the streets.
The parade followed the sixth Easton Criterium the day before, featuring high-intensity professional and amateur cycling races.
Easton Criterium Event Producer Kacey Lloyd said as long as lightning and thunder stays away, the show will go on.
“It’s very unlikely that we would, that we would cancel an event, unless there’s some sort of really terrible natural disaster,” said Lloyd.
Lloyd said the event brings in athletes from all over the country.
“There are definitely some tourism dollars to be had. We know that our reach is mostly regional, like within a 30-minute drive in terms of our spectatorship.” said Lloyd.
Greater Easton Development Partnership Special Events Manager Joe Dimeck said the rain did not stop folks from pouring into the events.
“We had a pretty good line down Northampton Street,” said Dimeck. “That’s kind of what you hope for when you do events, is that people had a good time, and I think they did.”
Officials in Easton said they are still working to gather exact numbers on the turnout for the events.