CINCINNATI -- The high likelihood of severe weather over the holiday weekend hasn't rained on the excitement of the many vendors preparing for Taste of Cincinnati.
"We serve rain or shine," said Beth Murphy, who traveled 230 miles from Indiana to sell duck dishes from Maple Leaf Farms. "As long as it's not lightning or dangerous, we're going to be giving out our free samples."
Between the long journey and the high turnout -- the festival attracts hundreds of thousands of people each year -- Taste represents an opportunity much too good to pass up because of weather, Murphy said.
There are contingency plans in case things get genuinely nasty, said Rhinegeist's Tyler Grimm.
"I'll drop the tents, I'll put ‘em back in the vans and pack everything up until the sun comes out again," he said.
If worst comes to worst, Grimm said, vendors and attendees will shelter in nearby parking garages.
Rich Walburg of the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber said safety is the organizers' top priority. After all, he added, Taste represents something special for the city of Cincinnati.
"It's something that brings people together," he said.
