Oaklawn Park is prepared to host its Spa Blast event today amid possible wet weather, but will delay activities until Sunday if necessary.
"Right now we are planning to move ahead even if we do get some rain," said Jennifer Hoyt, media relations manager for Oaklawn Racing & Gaming. "Obviously, if it becomes very severe, we will go on and cancel. We have already set Sunday, July 5, as our rain date."
Temperatures are expected to hang in the low 80s and upper 70s tonight, but forecasters expect rain to arrive in the area by this evening. The chance of precipitation is listed by multiple weather services as 60 percent, with thunderstorms early in the evening and showers later on.
Hoyt said Oaklawn is left to wait and see how heavy the precipitation is expected to be. The event will move forward as scheduled if only light precipitation is expected for the area.
"Depending on how severe the weather gets, we will make the call whether or not we have to postpone it to July 5," Hoyt said.
The 24th annual Spa Blast is scheduled to take place on Oaklawn's infield beginning at 4 p.m. with a fireworks display after dark. The event is sponsored by Budweiser and has been voted as one of the top summer festivals in Arkansas.
Gates will open at 4 p.m. with live music, headlined by regional acts Brian Kelly and Hillbilly Vegas, starting at 5 p.m. Infield entertainment will include the 270 Bluegrass Band, Gable Bradley Band, Brent and Tara, and R & R.
Miss Arkansas Ashton Campbell is scheduled to take the stage at 9:15 p.m. Campbell will sing the national anthem and "God Bless America."
The infield will also include a petting zoo, misting zone, an exhibit from the Mid-America Science Museum and a spacious Kids Zone. Lawn chairs will be welcome, but coolers will not be allowed.
Hoyt said Oaklawn will attempt to decide as early in the day as possible to postpone the event or not.
"We obviously want to make it so that we don't inconvenience anybody who is traveling here, whether they are coming from Little Rock or Malvern," Hoyt said. "We want to make it convenient for them, but at the same time we want to make sure that the people who are looking forward to the event get to have the event if we can have it."
Local on 07/03/2015