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DC-area events canceled as remnants of Ian expected to douse region

Take your plans indoors: The D.C. area is expected to be inundated with the dregs of Ian, which is expected to bring heavy rainfall and risk of flooding over the weekend. Here’s what you need to know. Event organizers are canceling events scheduled throughout the weekend in D.C., Maryland and Virginia.



DC

The Adams Morgan PorchFest, set for Saturday, has been postponed, organizers announced Friday. They’ll reschedule for another date in October. The Philadelphia Phillies’ four-game weekend series at the Washington Nationals has been adjusted because of the forecast for rain.

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Maryland

Taste of Bethesda, scheduled for Saturday, has been canceled, organizers said Friday; it won’t be rescheduled. In Ocean City, organizers of the Oceans Calling musical festival said Thursday they are making the “heartbreaking” decision to cancel the festival, citing the weekend’s expected severe weather. “We hoped for a better outcome and are disappointed to share this news, however, the safety of our fans, artists and staff is our top priority,” organizers said in a statement posted online. Organizers said a full refund would be issued to ticket purchasers within 30 days. Ocean City officials said the resort town is expected to be hit with high winds and tropical storm conditions, including heavy rain and tidal flooding. “We are extremely disappointed to cancel Oceans Calling Festival,” commented Ocean City Mayor Rick Meehan. “We have been working closely with the event promoters since May 2021. Their hard work, and the hard work of our staff, were evident in every detail of the event planning and preparation. Although this is disappointing to all of us, we are already working with C3 Presents to bring Oceans Calling Festival back to Maryland’s coast next year.” The GCCC Festival on the Green in Crofton scheduled for Saturday has also been canceled. Kinderfeston Saturday in Prince George’s county has been canceled, and the county’s Department of Parks and Recreation said patrons will be refunded.

Virginia

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin declared a state of emergency in anticipation of possible effects from the storm, which allows the state to mobilize resources and equipment. The weather prompted Virginia Beach to cancel the Neptune Festival, an annual festival that typically attracts more than 400,000 people. The McLean Artfest, scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 2, in McLean Central Park, has been canceled, organizers announced. They said they were concerned the soaking rains could damage the artwork. Art on the Avenue in Alexandria has been postponed to Nov. 12., citing wind and rain associated with the storm. WTOP’s Jack Moore contributed to this report.

Metro and IndyCar team up for a busy weekend of Freedom 250 Grand Prix events

No, you weren't hallucinating Thursday morning — that was an IndyCar being pulled along the Metro tracks through a portion of D.C. It was part of a promotion between the Freedom 250 Grand Prix and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority to remind people that the best way to navigate the expected huge crowds this weekend is to take Metro. "Even IndyCar knows the fastest way to get around is actually on Metro," said Randy Clarke, the transit agency's general manager and CEO. "We're really excited about this, and this car was a really kind of fun way to show a different way that people can see the Metro system, and we're having a little fun." The IndyCar, described as a work car that will not run in any of the races scheduled over the weekend, was fastened aboard a flat-bed train car and pulled along the yellow line, beginning at the King Street station up to the Mount Vernon station then back south to the L'Enfant Plaza station. Metro riders gawked at the multicolored, low-profile racecar as the train paused at L'Enfant for a photo op.
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