Gulf Shores Cancels Shrimp Festival
Isaias causes cancellation of Shrimp Festival. Safety of visitors, vendors and volunteers top priority for organizers.
The 53rd Annual National Shrimp Festival has been cancelled. The cancellation is a direct result of Tropical Storm Isaias, which forecasters predict will develop into a Category 2 hurricane before making landfall along the northern gulf coast.
“I met early this morning with the City of Gulf Shores Emergency Management officials,” Coastal Alabama Business Chamber President Greg Alexander said. The Chamber is the presenter of the festival. “We made every attempt to conduct the festival this year, but due to the projection of high winds, heavy surf and rain over the weekend, it really left us no choice but to cancel this year’s event," Alexander said.
He also said that the swift changes in overnight predictors cemented the decision. “We said yesterday that we would wait until today’s forecasts and predictions were in to make a final decision. After the 4 a.m. advisory from the National Hurricane Center, it left us no choice but to cancel the event,” Alexander said.
Baldwin County sent out a release this morning that outlined the key points with Isaias: • Isaias is likely to be a significant hurricane at landfall. Confidence is increasing for major impacts to coastal Alabama and northwest Florida.
• Earliest reasonable arrival of tropical storm force winds: Friday morning and afternoon, with the most likely onset Friday evening.
• Hurricane and Storm Surge Watches: Expected to be issued later today.
• Major concerns: High winds, high surf, rip currents, storm surge, flash flooding, and tornadoes. Heavy rainfall remains a concern, especially after last weekend’s flooding.
“We were really looking forward to a great weekend with shrimp, music, hundreds of vendors and thousands of visitors,” Shrimp Festival Chairman Rob Barnas said. “But with Isaias predicted to make landfall in our immediate area, the safety of each of these volunteers, visitors and vendors was our top priority.”
Further information will be posted as on the Festival’s Social Media pages and myshrimpfest.com