The Tempe Festival of the Arts was forced to change its plans as two days of rain interrupted the three-day event.
Festival spokeswoman Jessica Buchanan said the turnout was good considering the weather, but the festival lost an important vendor, had to relocate an event and was forced to close early.
Casino Arizona was scheduled to provide card games, dancers and impersonators, but cancelled because of the rain.
"It's kind of a bummer, because they were a new addition to the festival this year," Buchanan said. "Hopefully they will be back in the spring."
The festival also closed earlier than expected on Saturday night.
"We keep the event open until dusk, and with it being overcast, it was a little dark and obviously raining," Buchanan said. "Artists needed to get their work out of the rain and protect it, so we closed about half an hour early."
The artist awards dinner, which was to be held outdoors on Fifth Street on Saturday night, was relocated to the covered patio of a local gift shop.
Despite these issues, Buchanan reported a good turnout.
"[Rain is] not a problem necessarily, it just deters people from coming." Buchanan said. "Arizona natives aren't used to it so it kind of turns them off I think, but we still had a positive turnout."
Vendors were disappointed about the rain.
Thenia Raney, who sells various woven products, said the rain was a problem for her, though there was no damage to her products.
"It's more of a hassle," she said. "I didn't unpack a lot of the things since [Saturday]."
Lynn Kessinger, who sold framed prints, said she also was disappointed with the weather. She said there was water damage to her products and a lack of customers.
"[Customers are] not shopping, I mean, not like normal," she said.
Customers also seemed to be troubled by the weather as many walked around wet and held umbrellas.
Kaiya Boulton, who said she goes to the festival every year, was on Mill Avenue on Sunday but did not attend on Saturday.
"It was cold and I didn't want to," she said. "It's just not as fun as it should be."
Jeanne Hann, who said she attends both the fall and spring festivals every year, was more optimistic.
"There are a lot [fewer] people," she said. "I know it's not good for the vendors, but it's good for those of us who are Christmas shopping."
Reach the reporter at katherine.ruark@asu.edu.
