Wood Dale's Prairie Fest washed out again
For the second straight day, heavy rain and poor weather conditions Friday forced Wood Dale officials to cancel Prairie Fest.
City officials in charge of the festival, scheduled to open at 6 p.m., made the decision Friday afternoon, cutting a four-day festival to no more than two days.
City officials have been monitoring the preparations for the festival and have been on site throughout the past several days as the festival was being set up.
"There is a flash flood warning in our area until 8:15 p.m. and the National Weather Service has issued a statement that 'Atmospheric conditions are favorable for the development of isolated funnel clouds … associated with the thunderstorm activity over parts of Northern Illinois and Northwest Indiana,'" Deputy Police Chief Mike Rivas wrote in a prepared statement Friday afternoon. "DuPage County was listed as one of the possible affected areas. Concern over the weather prompted the decision to cancel Prairie Fest for today."
Officials said they will continue to monitor the weather and the state of the grounds to determine whether Prairie Fest can open on schedule at 1 p.m. Saturday. The festival is scheduled to run through Sunday.
Additional announcements related to the festival will be posted on the city's website, and on the city's electronic message sign on Wood Dale Road.