Severe Weather Cancels Some George Washington Birthday Events

ALEXANDRIA, VA -- Organizers of several George Washington Birthday events this weekend are getting the word out Friday about some changes to the schedule.

First and foremost: The George Washington Birthday Parade on Monday will go on, according to organizers and the Birthnight Banquet & Ball on Saturday also will take place.

Organizers say the following events are canceled due to severe weather in the forecast:

• George Washington Classic 10-K Race (and 2-K Fun Run)
• Revolutionary War Reenactment at Fort Ward Park

Walking With Washington tours will still take place Sunday, Feb. 14, at 2 p.m. at the Ramsay House (but check https://sites.google.com/site/gwbirthdaycelebration/status just to make sure).

Also read: Former Congressman Moran to Serve as Grand Marshal of GW Parade

More information about the Race:
Due to the extreme cold temperatures forecast for Race Day the George Washington Classic 10-K Race (and 2-K Fun Run) has been cancelled for Sunday, Feb. 14, according to organizers.

Even though no precipitation is forecast, the combination of some wind and very cold temperatures may be dangerous for our runners, organizers said in an announcement. Although we are not able to offer refunds to our runners, we are able to offer tickets (a $50 value) to all registered runners to the George Washington Patriot Run being held at Mount Vernon on Sept, 16, 2016, organizers noted. We will provide more information on this new race (the first ever to be held on the grounds of Mount Vernon Estate) within the next several weeks. Please contact Joseph Shumard via jshumard@washingtonbirthday.net if you have questions or concerns.

Also read: Brutal Cold Dropping to Single Digits This Weekend in DC Metro Area

Weather for the Parade
Based on the current forecasts, it is not likely that we will cancel the Parade, organizers said. The most reliable predictions are that temperatures will be above freezing and even if there is light snow, we should be able to proceed; the more intense snow seems to be more likely to occur later in the day, parade organizers said.

So if we do cancel the Parade it will be because the weather forecast changes: for instance, if the predicted temperature (now in the mid-30s) is lowered, or the expected wind volume increases, or if the snow is predicted to start much earlier, and/or is heavier than predicted now (or a combination of these factors) such that we begin to feel that it would be dangerous for the public to observe the Parade and/or it would be dangerous for our participants to march, organizers noted Friday.

Organizers said they will be watching these weather factors on an ongoing basis going forward. If their thinking changes they will report that at https://sites.google.com/site/gwbirthdaycelebration/status.