RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Many across the Commonwealth felt the effects of Helene on Friday.   Organizers of large-scale events, including the State Fair of Virginia and the Richmond Folk Festival, made sure that guests were safe as they kept an eye on the sky for severe weather. Not only did officials have to take the weather into account, but they also kept visitor safety at the top of their minds.   "We have a full presence of Virginia State Police on property throughout the run of the fair. We also have our walk-through metal detection system," said fair Executive Director Marlene Jolliffe. Jolliffe said that when it comes to keeping visitors safe at the State Fair of Virginia, they run a tight ship. "We know what's going on around us, but, you know, right now we feel good about the practices we have in place and the state fair has had a really good track record here at Doswell," Jolliffe said.  Jolliffe said that safety is always a concern. However, in her 35 years of being at the helm of the annual event, weather issues have been far more frequent. “Our events here, our issues have really been weather-driven more than safety and security,” Jolliffe said. “In the last couple of years, we've had hurricanes and tropical storms. So, we've had to actually shut down at times. So, a day like today is minor compared to those.”  The Richmond Folk Festival also opened on Friday, Sept. 27, but the wet weather didn't stop the music from flowing as its event-goers were also prepared for any leftover rain or wind from Helene.  Sheila Ketchem and her family said they heard about the recent fights at Kings Dominion and the other acts of violence at past events nearby. "If we saw something we might take action and leave, but it’s not something that would stop us from going in the first place,” Ketchem said.   The Ketchems live in Gloucester and have been coming to the fair every year as a tradition.   "It was just something we did every year, but it was a family thing," Ketchem said. "But after all these years, this is the first time it's rained on us." The last day of the Richmond Folk Festival is Sunday, Sept. 29. The State Fair of Virginia will be up and running until Sunday, Oct. 6.