This week's Concerts on the Square is officially postponed until tomorrow -- Thursday, July 19 -- due to inclement weather. This is the fourth show of the season, and the first one to be affected by the threat of rain over this very dry summer.
Tracy Fisher, marketing manager at the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra, says the call on whether or not to hold or postpone any given concert is made by its executive director Bob Sorge and several meteorologists in the area. "He consults them and they jointly make a decision together by 3 p.m.," explains Fisher, at which point the orchestra's staff works to let people know about any changes as soon as possible thereafter.
The easiest way to find out is on the orchestra's email list, where subscribers are encouraged to check online after 3:05 p.m. after the call is made. There are currently several large stretches of precipitation over Minnesota and Iowa, with the National Weather Service forecast calling for around a 50% chance of precipitation through the evening.
There have been relatively few postponements this year so far, compared to three in 2006, half of the entire season. This isn't cheap for the orchestra, which takes a hit in resources due to a lower number of volunteers and the necessity to pay for setting up a stage over two days instead of one. The crowds are also smaller, on average, so if you're looking for a Concerts on the Square experience than not as swarming with people as usual, tomorrow might be your day.
