CLEARWATER, Fla. -- The Pier 60 Sugar Sand Festival on Clearwater Beach is among several events canceled Sunday due to concerns about impending severe weather rolling through the Tampa Bay area.
Others include the Shark's Tooth Festival at the Venice Airport Festival Grounds and Sun 'n Fun Fly-in in Lakeland.
ABC Action News meteorologist Jason Adams and other Bay area weather watchers published warnings of potential high winds and storms battering Florida's west coast then moving to the east and south starting Sunday afternoon.
The annual Sugar Sand Festival on Clearwater Beach will reopen Monday when the weather conditions are expected to be better.
"We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause our visitors," city of Clearwater spokeswoman Joelle Castelli said in a statement.
The wind was a big reason the festival had to be shut down, as the sand art can't handle those conditions.
"I just wanted to see it up close because it's pretty impressive and there is one female that was in it this year," said Jennifer Rucker, who ame down with her son from St.Pete.
"Look at the front, look at that - it's absolutely beautiful. And that's what you see from the front you can't get into see the rest," said Joseph Laplaca, who's visiting Clearwater beach with his family from Massachusetts.
Sunday was the final day of the Sun 'n Fun Fly-in and Expo at the Lakeland Linder Airport in Lakeland and the Shark's Tooth Festival in Venice.
The Sugar Sand Festival is expected to resume at 10 a.m. Monday when the 21,000-square-foot tent housing the sand sculptures reopens at Pier 60 on Clearwater Beach.
Your tickets are still good for a one-day admission for other dates, but no refunds are being given, according to Castelli.
The annual sand fest also will serve as the official host of the beach bash and watch party for the Tampa Bay Lightning's NFL Playoff Game 3 Monday evening.
The festivities on Clearwater Beach will include the Lightning girls, Thunderbug and the Lightning playoff game projected on a jumbo screen.
The festivities begin at 5:30 p.m. Monday; the puck drops at 7:30 p.m.
