By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
Booking talent and performances for the Great Bend Airfest started more than a year before the event. Dozens of volunteers and staff members with the City of Great Bend brought the event to life. All the preparation and all the help cannot control the weather.
Wind, rain and threats of lightning put a damper on this past weekend’s Airfest attendance. Great Bend Community Coordinator Christina Hayes said she was disappointed the night show Saturday was cancelled.
"I know a lot of people we mad that in the promotion it says it's a 'rain or shine' event," said Hayes. "It is because the ground events go on even if they are not flying, but lightning changes things. Lightning, hail and extreme wind changes things. It wasn't safe to have someone walking around out there."
A weekend scheduled with warbirds, displays, tours, rides, history and airshows kicked off off last Friday by inviting more than 1,000 area students to experience Airfest.
"What I can say, and this passes the buck, but cancelling an airshow was not Martin (Miller, Airport Manager) and I's call," said Hayes. "The hate he and I got from this cancellation was pretty hefty, but it was not our call. We have to keep everybody safe."
Airport Manager Martin Miller said with just under 9,000 spectators attending the last Airfest in 2021, early unofficial numbers show less than 5,000 patrons attended this year’s Airfest.
"The weather was very disappointing," said Miller. "There is still recognition that the performers in this show are the top-ranked in each category. Even though we flied the day shows, the winds were high and that's a style of flying that changes their performance. Those guys did a great job."
Airfest started in 2012 and occurs every three years at Great Bend Municipal Airport. Miller noted it cost approximately $300,000 to host this year’s Airfest.
"We were all just wishing it could have been a full performance," added Miller."
Listen below to the entire interview with Hayes and Miller on this week's City Edition that aired on 1590 KVGB & 95.5 FM.