Tulsa Mayfest Director: Attendance Down From Last Year

By Jeffrey Smith, The News On 6

TULSA, OK -- The stormy weekend had a noticeable impact on Mayfest in downtown Tulsa.

Organizers estimate a double-digit drop in attendance percentage compared to last year. Depending on what the vendors are selling, business has been slow.

Mayfest vendor Jeff Seemayer sells t-shirts and lightweight summer clothing. He has done the math and says sales this year are down 30 percent.

"They don't want to try stuff on, they're in layers, lots of jackets and stuff, so it's hard," said Seemayer.

"I'm down by about half of what I normally do," said Frank Campbell, who is a Mayfest vendor.

Campbell has been selling ceramics for 20 years and says the chill and the drizzle is keeping customers away.

"If it's raining, I wouldn't go out to a show. So it's a big factor, the weather. And the weather was really bad," said Campbell.

Painter Christopher Westfall has done well this year. He says it helps to have a built-in clientele.

"I am a local artist, so I do have a lot of local clients, and they've braved the weather to come down here and buy some of my stuff. So it's been a lot of repeat business I've had in the past," said Westfall.

The festival's director says the Mayfest committee spends months preparing and organizing, but ultimately it comes down to Mother Nature.

"This has been probably, if not the wettest, then one of the wettest Mayfests on record," said Heather Pingry, Mayfest director.

She estimates attendance is down by double-digits. Vendors say they can't control the elements, but they can control their attitudes.

"Just keep a positive attitude, be friendly to everybody, and have a good Mayfest," said Campbell.

The Tulsa Chamber estimates that Mayfest has a $6 million impact on the community, mostly from all the out-of-state vendors who travel to Tulsa for the festival.

The festival wrapped up Sunday at 6 p.m.

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