Wintry weather chills festivities

Santa’s public appearance schedule, Christmas concerts and portable toilets are only a few of the hundreds of casualties claimed by the winter storm that swept through the state Friday.

Organizers of events scheduled for this weekend - some of which took the better part of the year to plan - had to scramble to cancel catering, equipment deliveries and even re-route Santa Claus.

For the first time in more than a decade, Little Rock’s Christmas parade had to be rescheduled. Originally set for 3 p.m. today, the 2013 Big Jingle Jubilee Holiday Parade was postponed until 3 p.m. next Saturday.

“This is the first time we’ve been faced with this particular situation. We’ve had rain and tornado warnings, but never this. It is an extremely unique situation,” said Angela Rogers, the owner of Angela Rogers Group, which coordinates the parade for the Little Rock Convention & Visitor’s Bureau.

The parade and the lighting of the state Capitol have traditionally heralded the beginning of the Christmas season for central Arkansas, Rogers said.

“It was a heart-wrenching decision to decide to postpone it, especially because of the kids,” she said.

The lighting of the Capitol - which has been done with much fanfare since its inception in 1938 - is being reduced to the light switch simply being “flipped on” at a random time by a state employee today.

There will be no fireworks, no concerts on the Capitol steps, no appearance by Santa and Mrs. Claus, and no official declaration from Arkansas Secretary of State Mark Martin.

The event will not be rescheduled. This is the fourth time in the ceremony’s 75-year history that it had to be canceled.

“We know people were excited about seeing [and] attending the Capitol lighting ceremony, but we felt the safety of staff, the participants and the public was paramount,” Martin said in a news release. “My staff and I wish everyone a very Merry Christmas, and we hope visitors will still come to the Capitol this month to enjoy this wonderful time.”

Once the decision was made Thursday to cancel the Little Rock parade and related festivities, Rogers said a flurry of activity was required to undo the details for which planning had begun more than nine months earlier.

Police schedules had to be rearranged, portable toilets were sent back to the vendor, barricades were rescheduled with the city, golf carts were sent back to their corral, permits were resubmitted for the new date, and the more than 120 float entrants had to be notified of the changed plans.

“Most importantly, we had to reschedule Santa. He’s a busy guy at this time of year. We’ve pulled it off, and he’s going to be here next Saturday. He said he would make a special trip because he loves Little Rock,” Rogers said.

The list of canceled events this weekend includes blood drives at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock and bingo in Pleasant Plains. Many of the state’s higher education campuses have had to cancel graduations, final exams and concerts.

Kelsey White, a volunteer with the nonprofit organization Friends of the Animal Village, said caterers and party equipment dealers were generous and empathetic when the decision was made to reschedule the organization’s first annual “Santa Paws Cocktail Party.”

The caterer, Simply the Best, had already purchased food and begun preparing the meal that was to be served tonight at the Oxford American offices in Little Rock. The rented tables had been delivered Thursday by Confetti’s Party Rental.

“The fairy gods have been in our favor. They were so generous about it. Nobody has charged us extra, and they said they don’t mind if we keep the tables down here for an extra week,” she said.

Likewise, vendors and donors were gracious when the decision was made to postpone the annual kickoff of Toy Hill, originally set for today and Sunday. The toy drive for children in central Arkansas is usually attended by more than 5,000 people in 72 hours. It has been rescheduled for Friday-Dec. 15.

Matt Cruz, director of marketing and promotions for Clear Channel Media, said party rentals and portable toilet suppliers simply rescheduled their deliveries for next weekend. And Petit Jean Meats put nearly 1,400 pounds of meat back on ice.

“Everything has gone smoothly. It just all fit together. These are the same people year after year for 30 years,” Cruz said.

Arkansas State University at Jonesboro canceled its highly attended “Holiday Spectacular” concert series, as well as the Madrigal Feaste scheduled for this weekend. Months of rehearsals, set construction, costume design and planning were invested in the production by college staff and students alike.

“It is just unfortunate that of all the weeks it had to pick to have this kind of weather event, it had to be this weekend,” said Bill Smith, executive director for marketing and communications at ASU-Jonesboro.

Several 5K races were scheduled - and promptly canceled - this weekend, some bearing winter monikers, such as Bentonville’s Frosty 5K, Little Rock’s Craig’s Jingle Bell 5K, Pottsville’s Winter Wonder Run and Springdale’s Ugly Christmas Sweater.

One outdoor event, however, will go on as scheduled and even welcomes the rugged conditions brought on by the weather. The Phat Tire BMC Cyclocross at Slaughter Pen Park in Bentonville will kick off at 9:30 a.m. Sunday, come rain, sleet or shine.

The 1.2-mile course already has multiple grueling barriers.

“Bring on the crappy weather, mud and gunk. It’s what we thrive on. I’m sure there will be some people that can’t handle it, but most have said they are really looking forward to it,” said race organizer Jason Evans.

Besides, the fees for permits and licenses, as well as the portable toilets, have already been paid.

“I’m already out the money. The weather just adds to the excitement,” Evans said.