Weekend plans? Here's what is canceled due to NC Tropical Storm Ophelia

Several events have been delayed or canceled due to storm conditions from Tropical Storm Ophelia.

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Rain or shine: Events postponed or canceled

The forecast put a damper on many outdoor events.

Even as Gov. Roy Cooper declared a State of Emergency, one of the largest weekend events as scheduled to go on as scheduled. Benson Mule Days features four days of rides, shopping, food and even a parade.

“All events are running as planned unless there is thunder and lighting," a Benson Mule Days organizer said Friday afternoon. "Just bring your rain coats and boots.”

Events happening rain or shine:

• Benson Mule Days
• Party in the Peak in Apex

Events delayed:

• Beaufort Pirate Invasion - delayed until Saturday
• Fayetteville International Folk Festival - Friday night parade canceled, festival delayed until Sunday at noon

Events canceled:

• 4th Friday’s Fiesta Latina in Fayetteville
• Benson Mule Days Parade - canceled, but rolled into Christmas on Main Parade set for Dec. 1.
• Cary Farmers Fall Festival
• Durham Pride
• Emerald Isle Beach Music Festival
• Festa Italiana in Raleigh
• Morrisville International Festival
• Project Palooza for Project Enlightenment
• Tree Trail Trek in Wake Forest

In eastern North Carolina, organizers of the Beaufort Pirate Invasion are closely tracking the storm.

The annual event draws up to 15,000 people for the festival and reenactments, but Beaufort is right in the path where WRAL meteorologists predict the potential tropical storm could make landfall, bringing wind gusts up to 70 mph and 5 feet of storm surge.

Organizers said they have around 100 performers camping out at the site, and they've already postponed the start of the event to Saturday afternoon.

They're monitoring conditions, hoping they won't have to cancel the event entirely.

"Typically we always get a thunderstorm, and we’re always expecting possible rainstorms," said Carl Cannon, event CEO. "But this may be our biggest storm that we’ve ever had actually hit."

Festival organizers said there is an evacuation plan for performers at the festival site, but they are hoping the weather allows them to start the festival by Saturday afternoon.

The Beaufort Pirate Invasion reenacts the Spanish attack on Beaufort in 1747, and it has been going on since 1960.

"We’ve been celebrating it every year since then, just about," Cannon said. "It’s Beaufort’s biggest event."

Near downtown Morrisville, a large flashing sign alerts citizens that the large International Festival is canceled.

"This was Morrisville's signature event, we were looking forward to event this year," said organizer Leslie Haney.

A signature band and 40 vendors and food trucks were already booked, but an anticipated 2,500 people will have to wait until next year for the festival.

"We decided for a variety of reasons, public safety being No. 1, not to have this event," Haney said.

Fayetteville braces for flash flooding

Tropical storm warnings and flood watches are in effect for some counties east of the Triangle, including Edgecombe, Halifax, Nash, Sampson, Wilson and Wayne counties, where up to 4 inches of rain will be possible. In Fayetteville and the Triangle, we're expected to get 1 to 2 inches of rain.

WRAL Fayetteville Reporter Gilbert Baez spoke with emergency management teams in Cumberland County, who said they are monitoring the system and will make adjustments as the weather dictates.

Forecasters are not predicting any major river flooding from the potential tropical cyclone. At the Cape Fear River on Friday afternoon, the water level was nowhere near flood stage.

Gene Booth, Cumberland County's Emergency Management Director, said flash flooding caused by heavy downpours will be the largest threat.

"The biggest concern would be your typical flash flood ... low-lying areas that [experience flooding] even during a normal spring or summertime thunderstorm," Booth said, listing areas around Ramsey Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Freeway. "Those areas typically have street-level flooding."

Cumberland County on Friday had not planned to open any shelters or its main emergency operations center, but Booth said those resources are on standby and can become operational very quickly depending on the weather.