“It was pretty intense last night,” commented Tyler McKinney about Thursday’s severe weather. He had been waiting for the Country in the Park concert to start at the Greater Mandeville Seafood Festival at about 6:30 p.m. when the severe thunderstorm hit the park.

McKinney and his family and friends, all from Alabama, had travelled to the area to enjoy the festival weekend. He was in front of the main stage when the top of the stage, rated to 75 mph, was left in shreds and all electrical equipment was totally destroyed.

By Friday morning, the group was set up on the front row by the main stage to enjoy the music. Betty Hodge, a worker next door to the main stage, said it was frightening. People at first took shelter behind the stage, then ran to other areas as the top of the stage started to tear.

J.J. Richardson, spokesman for the festival, said it was just “disastrous. I’m just glad no one was injured.” He said he was worried that people won’t realize that everything is up and running.

Thursday night’s concert, Country in the Park, featuring Mark Chesnutt and Sammy Kershaw, was cancelled due to the weather. Richardson said that the concert is being rescheduled, but a date has not yet been set. Ticketholders for Thursday night’s concert were given the option of keeping their tickets for the rescheduled show, or using the tickets for entrance each day to the festival.

By 10 a.m. Friday morning, new electrical equipment and a new top were in place and ready for the performers for the rest of the weekend at the main stage. The first act was due to take the stage at 11 a.m.

Richardson said that the Country in the Park concert will be rescheduled, but a date has not yet been set. Anyone still holding tickets for the cancelled concert will be able to use those tickets for the rescheduled concert.

Elsewhere at the festival on Friday morning, vendors were still picking up the pieces of destroyed tents and erecting new ones, putting out merchandise and sweeping water out of the areas, preparing for the weekend’s crowds.

Volunteers were everywhere and helping set up the attractions in the Louisiana Lagniappe children’s area, including the inflatables and water games.

Leanne Cantrell, chair of the area, said that some of the animals for the petting zoo were on site when the storm hit.

None were injured, although she said she could hear the goats bleating.

The tepee set up for Native American storytelling by Tom “Strong Buffalo” Varnado was unscathed by the storm. Varnado said the structures can withstand winds of 80 mph.

Cantrell agreed that the tepee received no damage and didn’t move during the high winds and rain.

Cantrell marveled at the dedication of the volunteers, especially those in the Louisiana Lagniappe children’s area. One family, Stacey and Kent Jacob, with their son Cameron, gave up a family vacation to Florida to help with the festival.

Their motor home is parked at the park and during the day they will be weaving color hair extensions for visitors in the children’s area.

The couple also donated a sponsorship to the fun run and gift certificates to the Kent Jacob Salon at Franco’s Athletic Club. Stacey said they are amazed by the KidSense playground and since they do not have a lot of time to do volunteer work wanted to help by donating the weekend to the cause.

Another business, Windmill Nurseries, donated 150 15-gallon anise trees “simply to make the are look nice,” said Cantrell. The trees are not on loan; they will be raffled.

Another of Cantrell’s volunteers, Sue Gorman, is a new resident of the Northshore. She teaches special needs children in Metairie in a reverse inclusion preschool class and wanted to help build another KidSense playground. “It is amazing what they have done and I want to help if I can,” she said.

The proceeds from her splash booth will go to KidSense. Her booth is designed so that children in wheelchairs can fit in it and participate like everyone else. The events and festivities continue today until 10:30 p.m.