Vendors left on the curb after Villagefest canceled

“Unfortunately, when it rains we lose out,” Villagefest vendor Gloria Schlifke said. Normally every Thursday, the street is full of vendors, people and no parking. But because of the longer than usual wet weather, the city of Palm Springs canceled this week’s Villagefest. “Our fire inspectors were a little concerned about water in the gutters and electrical wires on but also then there’s concerns about people slipping and falling,” Palm Springs City Manager David Ready said. For vendors, the loss of this week’s sale came at a price. “Little bit sad because Sunday is Christmas. We have a lot of product right now and it’s canceled so there’s no way we can sell it,” Villagefest vendor Marlene Vradley said. Vradley said her sales were lower than she liked this season. That’s why she was counting on today’s sales. Another vendor said this was an important week for all vendors. “There’s so many people that really depend on coming out here the Thursday before Christmas so they can go ahead and sell their wares and crafts. It’s a shame,” Schlifke said. Schlifke is with Moderustic, an 11-year vendor with Villagefest. She said she came all the way from Rancho Cucamonga to find out from another vendor, not the venue, that the event was canceled. She said if they had known, they would have stayed home. “If [we got a] courtesy text or an email. That would be wonderful if we were to get that,” Schlifke said. Both vendors said vendor fees are prepaid monthly, meaning days like these bring them into the negative. “Even though if it rains they won’t give you your money back,” Vradley said. Although street fair vendors couldn’t squeeze in an extra pay day before the holiday weekend, both vendors said hopefully they’ll make up what they lost next Thursday.