High winds and heavy rains have led to the cancelation of Children’s Day on South Whidbey.

Planned for Saturday, Sept. 28, at Community Park in Langley, event organizers sent out a news release Thursday morning detailing the cancelation.

“The risk of running it was greater than canceling it,” said Bess Windecker-Nelson, one of the event’s co-chairs. “It’s not perfect. Many of the booths have been purchased and put time and energy into the event.”

“We’re really, really sad about this … It’s just not safe,” she added.

This is the fist cancellation in the event’s 15-year history.

Windecker-Nelson, who works with Partners for Young Children to put on the family festival, said 30 different groups and vendors were slated to flood Community Park with games, treats and information.

“They’ve made this decision without consulting other people,” said Ron Myers, Kiwanis lieutenant general for Division 20 that includes Whidbey Island, Anacortes, Friday Harbor and Orcas Island.

“We were prepared,” he said. “We have the food over there in the concession stand right now. We’re a little miffed.”

The Children’s Day committee looked at several weather forecasts that showed winds up to 40 mph and rain likelihood between 80 and 100 percent during the event.

“We can’t run the inflatables if it’s wet, and it was guaranteed to be wet,” Windecker-Nelson said.

The weather forecast also has led to the cancelation of the North Whidbey Middle School Music Booster Car Wash, scheduled for Saturday in Oak Harbor.