The Paseo del Rio Association on Monday confirmed that it would stand by its no-refunds policy after canceling Friday’s annual holiday river parade in midevent because of severe weather.

The Ford Holiday River Parade had already begun Friday when torrential rains made the San Antonio River’s main channel through downtown unnavigable. And a large, red spot appeared on weather radar, indicating a significant chance of lightning, said Paula Schechter, the nonprofit’s spokeswoman. The group’s decision-makers decided that it was in the best interest of public safety to cancel the event. It was the first time that’s happened in the parade’s 34-year history.

“It was not an easy decision,” Schechter said.

Now the organizers are facing blowback on social media for the group’s decision to stand by its no-refunds policy. The organization received a plethora of comments on its Facebook page, many with an added level of snark that’s typical of social media posts.

“If you promised ‘rain or shine’ (which doesn’t even make sense — the parade takes place after dark), then you should make good on it by either rescheduling or refunding,” Michelle Lowery commented on a photo of the Arneson River Theater stage posted by the association. “It’s one thing if someone pays and then doesn’t show up. Quite another when you cancel the event after essentially saying it would happen no matter what.”

Another commenter, Sylvia Ann Sosa, posted her opinion, followed by an angry-face emoticon: “I can understand rain or shine no refund. … But not rain then cancel!!! That is morally wrong not to give the $$ back!! Rip offs! Who’s in charge of this dog and pony show!!!”

Others, like Bonnie Carrisal, defended the decision in dueling posts.

“Get over it people!!!! Weather and safety was the primary factor!! No one can control the weather!!! Everyone knew when they purchased the tickets there would be NO REFUNDS,” she wrote on the Facebook thread. “Thank you Paseo del Rio for making the decision that was best for everyone. I know it was not an easy one but looking after the best interest of everyone was the best decision especially with so much lightning and rain!”

Schechter said the association has received about 100 emails from people who’d purchased tickets, a small number considering that the parade draws an average of 100,000 guests annually. Parade officials couldn’t say exactly how many tickets were sold.

Those who wrote will receive a letter from the nonprofit explaining the situation and the decision to stand by the no-refunds policy. The letter notes the group was monitoring weather hourly and that the sudden downpour and potential for lightning were unexpected.

“The barges would not have been able to navigate in the main channel because the river flow was too fast,” the letter says. “These weather circumstances were completely unpredictable and unforeseen.”

Others have called on Paseo del Rio to reschedule the event. But that’s impossible, Schechter said. The logistics of the event take months to coordinate. Some 250 people had worked their schedules around a Friday night event. Volunteers were recruited. Permissions by the city were granted. There are other events coming up that would make it difficult to reschedule, and the barges used by the association have to be reconfigured for another Paseo del Rio event in December.

The proceeds from tickets, which ranged from $15 to $40, fund the organization’s operating budget and the cost of the holiday parade — the largest of the five parades the organization holds each year. The holiday river parade held after Thanksgiving is the only one that charges an admission fee. The other four are free and open to the public, Schechter said.

“The image that people are trying to create, that we’re selfish or unsympathetic — it’s a very sad way to depict a nonprofit organization when we constantly create programming for the enrichment of the community,” she said. “And nothing could be further from the truth.”