Extreme Heat Alters Media's Dining Under The Stars, America250 Event

MEDIA, PA — Despite the extreme heat, Media's Dining Under the Stars gathering and semiquincentennial celebrations will proceed Wednesday evening.

Dining Under the Stars, a weekly summer gathering of outdoor dining, has some extra festivities planned this week for the 250th anniversary of the United States.

But a dangerous heatwave is underway, with heat index values up to 105 in Wednesday's forecast for Media.

Event organizers say the events will proceed with some modifications. Restaurants can choose whether to serve patrons outdoors, and guests with outdoor reservations can contact restaurants to see if they can be seated indoors.

"The Dining Under the Stars team is sensitive to the health and safety of its guests as well as restaurant wait staff and kitchen staff in today’s extraordinary temperatures," a statement says on the Dining Under the Stars Facebook page.

Cooling stations will be located at Church Street, Plum Street, Olive Street and Veterans Square.

The Media Business Authority and Delco250 have several events planned to celebrate the nation's 250th on Wednesday evening, including flag-raising ceremonies, Revolutionary War reenactments and a colonial musical petting zoo.

An extreme heat warning for the region remains in effect until 8 p.m. on the Fourth of July. Heat index values from 100 to 110 are expected each day, significantly increasing the likelihood of heat-related illness, according to the National Weather Service.

Temperatures will become more manageable each night, forecasters say.