Magnolia Festival “Friday Night Ignite” ceremony canceled

Published 3:00 pm Thursday, April 14, 2011

The Friday Night Ignite kickoff ceremony for the Gardendale Magnolia Festival this weekend has been cancelled, according to event organizers. Weather concerns are cited as the chief reason for the cancellation; the National Weather Service is predicting a moderate chance for severe weather for Friday.

“So many people have worked so hard, spent time and money, hoped and prayed for this night for many months,” said festival event cooridinator Kathleen Phillips. “But all this is not worth endangering even one life with the kind of weather that is not only predicted, but expected.”

Festival organizers say they may have a brief “teaser time” at about 2:45 p.m. on Friday during which new attractions, such as the water bubble and the Gamin Ride, can be enjoyed, weather permitting.

Saturday’s weather is predicted as being only partly cloudy, and the festival is scheduled to proceed normally from that point.

All vendors can still register, pick up packets and find their locations on Friday morning, starting at 8 a.m. If a vendor’s booth is located in the Exhibition Hall, it can be set up after 2 p.m. Attractions and rides can also set up on Friday at the owner’s discretion.

More information for sponsors and exhibitors is on the festival’s website: http://www.magnoliafestival.org