Vendors had just finished setting up for the Veterans Association of Whitesboro (VAW) Military Festival and Car Show on Saturday when the skies opened up.
Around 8 a.m., a downpour sent event workers seeking cover. At first, it was decided the event’s opening ceremonies would simply be delayed. But while the hope was that the storms would pass, radar revealed that the rain would keep coming.
Around 9:30 a.m., VAW President Keisha Head called it.
“We’re just going to have to postpone,” she said. “This rain isn’t going to let up, and we can’t have a car show with weather like this.”
It was a disappointing outcome after all the hard work that had gone into not only planning the event in the months leading up to Saturday, but in setting up the day of.
However, behind every cloud is a silver lining.
Vendor Misty Nordhoff of Misty Doodlebug Wreaths, LLC took to social media with nothing but positivity.
“It started pouring like I’ve never seen on an event day that I’ve been to,” she wrote. “But here’s the beautiful part -- our community! We had vendors looking out for other vendors, volunteers running tent to tent to check on people and everyone genuinely caring about everyone. I didn’t care if I was soaked -- it was absolutely something I was glad to be a part of.”
Other vendors posted similar experiences.
“We had such a good time visiting with all of the vendors, veterans and volunteers that were there waiting out the storm with us. I wish I would have gotten more pictures to show the amazing sense of community,” Amber Wilkerson of Home Helpers Home Care posted on Facebook.
The VAW is working with the City of Whitesboro to find a date to reschedule the event.
The hope is for later this month or sometime in October.
The festival will still include a military vehicle and car show, kids’ area with bounce house, face painting and more, vendors selling their goods and services, food trucks, music throughout the day and lots of fun, family-friendly activities.
Watch for details to come. In the meantime, plan to attend the VAW’s next monthly Veterans Social at Cook’s Main Stage in downtown Whitesboro on Thursday, Sept. 25 from 6-9 p.m. The event is free and anyone is welcome to attend.
