Despite rain, Bella Vistans celebrate

n Stage collapse forced cancellation of blues festival.

Conor Woody/The Weekly Vista Rains Sunday morning caused the canopy over the Hot Dam Blues Festival stage to collapse, forcing the festival’s cancellation. Despite the morning rain, and thunderstorms moving into the area Sunday night, the Bella Vista fireworks display went off without a hitch.
Conor Woody/The Weekly Vista Rains Sunday morning caused the canopy over the Hot Dam Blues Festival stage to collapse, forcing the festival’s cancellation. Despite the morning rain, and thunderstorms moving into the area Sunday night, the Bella Vista fireworks display went off without a hitch.

After over half a year of planning, the first Hot Dam Blues Festival collapsed before it began Sunday -- canceled by an unfortunately timed downpour that threw a wrench into Independence Day celebrations.

"We are all disappointed (the festival) had to be canceled," said Dave Barfield, one of the event's organizers. "We had great bands, food vendors and a Bentonville Brewing beer garden all lined up. It would have been a great day. Just when you think you have everything planned, as soon as you turn your back, Mother Nature steps in to let you know who's in charge."

The stage set up for musicians collapsed hours before bands were set to begin performing.

"The weight of the water that accumulated in the canopy was too much for the aluminum trusses to hold," Barfield said. "They split apart, collapsing the awning and ripping the canvas canopy."

By 11 a.m., the stage and the supersaturated baseball field -- as well as the threat of more severe weather later in the day -- forced the festival's committee to cancel the concert due to safety concerns.

The POA donated use of the stage. They will now have to assess the damage and decide whether to repair or replace it. Barfield said the damage may be covered by insurance.

The festival would have brought in canned goods for the Oasis Food Pantry.

"I'm sure (they) would be happy to accept canned goods that would have been collected at the festival," Barfield said. Donation centers can be found at villagebibleefc.org/oasis-food-pantry.

The festival will not be rescheduled this year. Barfield said that planners will give it another go next year.

Despite the difficulties caused by the weather, the city's fireworks display held at Loch Lomond Dam went off without a hitch -- even as thunderstorms rolled into the region.

The fireworks were set up and ignited by the Bella Vista Fire Department. Chief Steve Sims, a licensed pyrotechnician, helped put on the event with an individual contracted by the city. The fireworks were Pyro, a Tennessee company. The cost was $15,000.

"Other roles of the FD during the event was to provide standby in certain areas for fire, EMS and water rescues if anything were to happen during the show," Sims said. "Two water rescue members on the ranger boats patrolled the lakes during the fireworks."

The fireworks started a few minutes early due to rain that was closing in on the dam.

The inclement weather didn't stop locals from enjoying the celebration.

"The fireworks continued with no problems and a good crowd was on the water and below the dam," Sims said.

"I'm not going to let a little rain stop my family and I from celebrating our independence," said Michael Compton, who showed up early at the dam with his family. "We're having a great time. The fireworks display was really great this year."

General News on 07/06/2016