New York cancels OZY Fest cultural festival as temperatures climb
Organizers were hoping OZY Fest would be hot — but not this hot.
The New York City festival has been canceled due to heat, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Friday afternoon.
Scheduled for this weekend in Central Park, the cultural festival, now in its fourth year, had a lineup that included John Legend, Trevor Noah, Megan Rapinoe, Padma Lakshmi, Malcolm Gladwell, Spike Lee and Mark Cuban.
Organizers warned attendees on Twitter earlier in the week that despite the increasingly high temperatures, “we’re committed to making sure everyone is safe and comfortable.” And on its website, it promised, “There will be unlimited free water, misting fans, shaded areas, heat relief tents, sunscreen dispensers and ice stations all weekend-long at OZY Fest.”
The cancellation appeared to come as a surprise; as recently as 30 minutes before the announcement, OZY Fest tweeted, “A limited number of Sunday tickets and weekend passes are still available, be sure to get yours today.”
The organizers said in a statement, “We are unable to process individual refunds in any circumstances. Per the terms and conditions on your ticket, all sales are final.”
Earlier Friday, New York City Triathlon officials canceled that race, citing high temperatures and humidity expected to be beyond safe racing conditions.
The National Weather Service has put New York City under an excessive heat warning from noon Friday until 8 p.m. Sunday. That kind of warning is issued when the combination of heat and humidity is expected to make it feel like it is 105 degrees or more.
