Mayfest, other outdoor events canceled over swine flu concerns

The 37th annual Mayfest, which was scheduled to start at 3:30 p.m. today, has been canceled in response to growing concerns about swine flu transmissions.

This is the first time the event has been canceled in its entirety.

Volunteers and vendors who have been setting up the event for months are now packing up and planning for next year. About 1200 volunteers help set up the event annually.

“It’s a shame,” said Darcy Harrell, volunteer co-chair of media and public relations for the event. “We got an e-mail at 12:10 from Richard Zavala, in the parks and community department in Fort Worth, saying all outdoor public events have to be canceled.”

The call to cancel Mayfest came from the Tarrant County Health Department, and is in the interest of public health and safety, Harrell said.

Mayfest officials, volunteers and vendors are expected to lose about $500,000 as a result of the cancellation.

Officials are looking into whether or not insurance could cover some of the lost money, Harrell said.

The event cancellation comes after Fort Worth Independent School District canceled classes and closed schools through May 11.

On the Web: www.mayfest.org