Plan ahead to stay dry at Kansas City Independence Day celebrations

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – A lot of eyes will be looking to the skies for fireworks tomorrow night. But clouds and rain in those skies have many asking if the show will go on.

The key is to plan ahead. Outside the World War I Museum and Memorial, the stage has been set up in advance because the show must go on. So, before you come out here, make a to-do list of stuff to bring and where to go to stay dry.

The stage is set, and so is the spot for fireworks. Kansas Citians are ready to celebrate another 4th of July with a bang.

“It’d be really good to get some family and have friends come along,” Jadon Walker of Kansas City said. “Bring them out and sounds like there will probably be a lot of community out here.”

Leaders of the Stars and Stripes Picnic have been working around the clock to set up the stage. They’ve prepared vendors to bring enough equipment so their setups can withstand any harsh weather.

“We’ve got a larger stage than we might have used before and it’s got a roof to protect the sound equipment that we’ve got set up for the day,” Matthew Naylor, President and CEO of the WWI Museum and Memorial, explained. “Then tomorrow early on the vendors will start coming in and they’ll be appropriately equipped with tents to ensure everything stays safe.”

Eventgoers also need to plan ahead in case the forecast doesn’t stay dry.

“My first thought is an umbrella but that seems kind of silly thinking about this whole group of people,” Walker thought. “Umbrella’s might be impractical. So, I don’t know I don’t have any clear thoughts on that.”

There won’t be an extra emergency shelter set up, they’re asking for festivalgoers to have fun but stay aware.

“We’ll rely on people to keep an eye on their weather apps,” President Naylor said. “That we’ll update people if there’s lightning coming or storms approaching. Then to take appropriate action. They know how to manage in wet weather if a threat presents itself.”

The National WWI Museum will also be open tomorrow from 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. if you want to take a break from outside. But it’s not big enough to hold everyone in attendance. Remember to download the First Warn 5 Weather App where our team will have all the latest updates.

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