After the first day of the KC Jazz and Heritage Festival closed to beautiful weather and big crowds, organizers scrambled to prepare for storms on day two.
"We will watch out for a major thunderstorm or any lightning. At that particular time we'll close the event," Executive Director Cheptoo Kositany-Buckner said.
But Saturday's rain didn't give them the blues.
KC Jazz & Heritage Fest is on! I feel the sunshine! Goes till 11:30 tonight! @41actionnews pic.twitter.com/3OnJpZcDYu
— Sarah Plake (@SarahPlakeTV) May 27, 2017
"If you love this music and this heritage and are really supportive of this jazz festival, don't let the rain scare you away, you're going to miss something powerful," Kositany-Buckner said.
"We've been coming to these for a number of years and this is going to be a better one," festival-goer Lynn Atkins said.
Constance Terry set up the booth for her business, Devotions Boutique, in the rain before the festival started at 3:00.
"It would help the vendors very much if they could come out and support the district, the city, and the vendors," Terry said.
Crews and vendors secured plenty of tarps.
Folks can also enjoy the music indoors at the Gem Theater and The Blue Room. Organizers want the jazz fest to get national attention, so they said being prepared is key.
"For this to be successful, being a jazz city should be important to ask of us," Kositany-Buckner said.
"Looks like it's going to be great, and I understand yesterday was excellent too," Atkins said.
The jazz fest goes until 11:39 p.m. Saturday, and continues Sunday.
Tickets are $25 per day. To check out the schedule, click here.
