National Folk Festival Weather: Will it rain on the party?

The Daily Times

Carver Rich Smoker demonstrates his craft as The National Folk Festival introduced Chesapeake Traditions as the theme of the 2018 Maryland Traditions Folklife Area program on Tuesday, June 12, 2018 at the Ward Museum.

The weather forecast for the National Folk Festival in Salisbury this weekend is looking a bit damp — but the good news is temperatures will be cooler, according to the National Weather Service.

The festival will go on, rain or shine, according to the festival website.

The National Folk Festival will be in downtown Salisbury for the first time from Sept. 7-9. The free event will bring more than 350 musicians, artists and craftsman to the city and will run yearly through 2020.

In 2018, the festival will celebrate its 78th year. Salisbury is the 29th city to host the event.

Five tented stages offer a dry place where festivalgoers can enjoy performances, whether it is raining or not, according to organizers.

The festival hours are 6 to 10:30 on Friday; noon to 10:30 on Saturday; and noon to 6:30 on Sunday. Food vendors and the Festival Marketplace will open at 5 p.m. on Friday, and at 11 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

The first day of the festival opens with the Tremé Brass Band, a renowned New Orleans brass band. The band is scheduled to perform and then follow the performance with a second-line style parade.

The band will perform on Friday, Sept. 7, from 6-6:45 p.m. on the City Stage and follow it up with a parade from 6:45-7:15 p.m. to the PRMC Stage.

Friday's forecast calls for likely showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 2 p.m. The chance of precipitation is 60 percent; possible new rainfall amounts of between a quarter and half of an inch are predicted. The high temperature is predicted to reach 87 degrees, but things should be starting to cool off slightly by the evening's events.

Saturday's forecast is similar in terms of rain. Still, the temperature should be more comfortable than it has been in recent days — with a high of only near 78 predicted.

Showers are likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 2 p.m., then showers and thunderstorms are likely after 2 p.m. The chance of precipitation is 60 percent, with new rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Sunday looks like a similar weather scenario — a chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 2 p.m. It will be mostly cloudy, with a high near 77. Chance of rain is 50 percent on Sunday.

Festival goers are advised to visit one of the information booths located throughout the festival to get updated performance schedules in case of inclement weather.

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