Saturday Storm Chances Put River Festival Evacuation Plan in Focus
Thunderstorms could affect the Smoky Hill River Festival on Saturday, placing renewed attention on how organizers would notify and evacuate thousands of people from Oakdale Park if threatening weather develops.
The National Weather Service forecast for Saline County calls for a 70% chance of rain Saturday. Showers are expected to become likely during the afternoon, with thunderstorms possible and temperatures approaching 90 degrees.
South winds of 10 to 15 mph are forecast to shift to the west during the afternoon and increase to 15 to 20 mph. Thunderstorms remain possible Saturday evening, when north winds could produce gusts of up to 30 mph.
The forecast does not currently state that Saturday’s storms are expected to become severe, and no severe thunderstorm or tornado watch has been issued for the event. Forecasts may change as Saturday approaches.
The possibility of storms comes days after destructive weather caused widespread power outages, fallen trees and other damage across Salina.
The Smoky Hill River Festival is scheduled to continue in Oakdale Park through Sunday.
How Festival Visitors Will Be Notified
According to the weather plan currently linked through the Festival website, Festival staff monitor weather information with Saline County Emergency Management, which has direct access to the National Weather Service.
Emergency announcements may be distributed through the Festival website and social media accounts, announcements from Festival stages and updates provided by staff throughout the vendor and exhibition areas.
Visitors may also register for RecZone text or email notifications. RecZone users must select Oakdale Park under the service’s news and announcement options to receive Festival updates.
Oakdale Park is also equipped with a WeatherBug lightning-alert system.
A 15-second horn indicates that a threatening storm or lightning strike has been detected within the system’s designated area. When the horn sounds, people are instructed to immediately clear open areas and seek shelter while activities are suspended.
A flashing light remains active until 30 minutes after the most recent detected lightning strike. Three short horn sounds indicate that the lightning-alert period has ended, although Festival staff determine when activities may resume.
Three Possible Responses
The Festival plan provides three possible responses to threatening weather:
Delay: Activities may be postponed if organizers believe they can resume within a reasonable period.
Temporary suspension: Performances or activities may be canceled or postponed in specific areas of the park.
Evacuation or shelter: Festival staff may order the park evacuated when threatening weather is approaching.
People may leave on foot through one of the Festival’s five gates and travel to their own off-site shelter. Vehicles may be directed out through the Mulberry Bridge exit or a temporary Oakdale Park exit.
People who need mobility assistance are instructed to immediately report to the shuttle stop to leave the park.
TPEC Designated as Shelter Location
People who do not have access to another shelter, or do not have enough time to leave the area, may be directed to Tony’s Pizza Events Center.
Under the plan, attendees would cross the TPEC bridge and enter through the building’s backstage entrance on the south side of the arena. Festival workers wearing yellow vests and carrying orange flags would direct people into the building.
The plan specifically warns that tents, park restrooms, recreational vehicles, mobile buildings and backstage rooms at the Eric Stein Stage are not approved storm shelters.
If Festival staff issue an evacuation or shelter order, the plan states that everyone must either leave Oakdale Park or report to the designated shelter space at Tony’s Pizza Events Center.
The document currently linked by the Festival is titled as the 2025 weather plan. The procedures remain available through the Festival’s current website, but the document does not identify itself as a revised 2026 plan.
Festival attendees should continue monitoring the National Weather Service and official Festival communication channels throughout the weekend.