Savana Bruscino stays dry under her newly purchased umbrella on Sunday evening when rain begins to fall shortly after inflating two balloons, canceling the final launch of the three-day festival at Simard-Payne Memorial Park in Lewiston. During the Lewiston-Auburn Balloon Festival, all six launches were halted due to rain, wind and fog, except for two pilots who braved the elements on Friday evening. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

LEWISTON – Attendees of the Lewiston-Auburn Balloon Festival learned Sunday evening that the final launch of the three-day event would not take place.

Rain was the reason that the five special hot air balloons and a handful of others were launched at the event at Simard-Payne Memorial Park. It was overcast from morning to evening, with low clouds and rain preventing the balloon launches in the morning, and a second wave of precipitation caused the cancellation in the evening.

With an unusually low attendance on Sunday morning, some arrived in the evening hoping to witness a successful final launch. The Foss family of Minot was hopeful after the disappointment of the canceled launch in the morning, but the family didn’t mind missing it a second time.

Three-year-old Kasen Foss was busy dragging his eight-year-old sister Kayleigh to the ground while the balloonists and their crews hurried to pack up their things while a light rain was still falling.

“We were here this morning, went home for a few hours and came back,” said her mother, Kristina Foss.

The children especially enjoyed the bouncy castle and face painting, although they had “almost done everything,” Kayleigh said.

Kayleigh, left, and Kasen Foss react as their mother takes photos of them as the balloons begin to deflate Sunday evening at Simard-Payne Memorial Park in Lewiston on the final day of the three-day Lewiston-Auburn Balloon Festival. Rain, wind and fog thwarted all six launches except for two pilots who braved the elements Friday night. (Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal) Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

“Look at me,” Kayleigh said, showing her tiger face in all its glory. “I was a little (disappointed), but it was fun.”

Izzy Chickering and Adilyn Brown, both 5 years old and from Lewiston, hardly noticed that there were no balloons in the air with all the fun and activities going on during the day.

“My favorite part was getting into the big balloon,” said Chickering, who played with Brown and Brown’s brother Oliver, 3, in a small hot air balloon that was inflated with a fan.

“And mine was the makeup,” said Adilyn.

Spyderpig pilot Patrick Sullivan said Saturday night that even if the weather on the surface doesn’t seem too bad, there are dangers for balloon crews, passengers and spectators in light storms. He said he’s been in a few sticky situations himself, but he can think of a few that he wasn’t involved in.

“(Balloons) were pulling trucks and people across the field,” Sullivan said. “It’s not safe.”

Launches since Friday have been cancelled due to various weather-related reasons, including dense fog, strong winds, low clouds and rain.

While the teams inflate the balloons for the show on Friday and release two balloons from the ground on Saturday evening, none can be fully inflated due to weather conditions on Sunday morning or evening.

Meteorologist Stephen Baron of the National Weather Service said Sunday morning that there would be a 40 percent chance of rain by the evening, with calm winds of about 5 mph. But even the slightest amount of rain means no launch, Re/Max balloon pilot Bruce Byberg said earlier in the day.

Hot air balloon pilot and owner of The Cake, Keith Sproul, said it was disappointing that he was unable to get the 70-foot-tall birthday cake balloon airborne at the last opportunity, but he and his crew were able to get a small balloon airborne that was tethered to vehicles. He said he and his crew had a great three days in Lewiston.

“The people here are super friendly,” Sproul said. “It’s a really nice place and we had a great time.”

Julia Gagnon and her fiancé Nate Haven perform on the main stage of the Lewiston-Auburn Balloon Festival at Simard-Payne Memorial Park in Lewiston on Sunday afternoon. (Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal) Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

Angelynne Amores, Lewiston’s marketing and communications director, said city officials and event organizers were disappointed that the weather did not cooperate for the main attraction, but everyone was happy that the events, artists and vendors drew large crowds throughout the day.

“The balloons are always at the top of the list, but … our goal this year was to make sure we had a solid lineup of events,” Amores said. “I mean, Julia Gagnon was so good, and Motor Booty? That was an experience. We had all the artists from the Maine Micro Artisans and medieval tent activities and Family Fun Day and so much more.”

Festival organizer Mel Hamlyn said on Saturday that everyone who paid for tickets for the balloon ride would get their money back.

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