Rain overwhelms Saline Summerfest after a successful kickoff

Rain caused cancellation of much of the Saline Summerfest before noon Saturday, leaving organizers saying the event had “crashed and drowned”—but only after an estimated 1,500 to 2,000 people had made the Friday evening festivities a big success.

Helen Martin, Summerfest art show director, said the “great, lively crowd” enjoyed music and performances by local dance troupes despite Friday evening’s threatening weather. “I believe they didn’t shut down before well past closing time” of 11.30 p.m., Martin said.

The rain eventually moved off, and some Saturday evening activities are going on as initially planned.

Saturday morning started with a run and other activities. But the deluge forced cancellation of the watermelon-eating contest, historical tours, a goldfish toss and a wide variety of performances. Artisans were folding up their booths and looking forward to the Saline Harvest of the Arts and Oktoberfest, scheduled for Sept. 26.

“The story is: What do you do when you only had one sale for the whole day because you had to pack up and leave?” said Donna McCauley, of Ann Arbor, who was indeed packing up her artwork around 12.30 p.m. “It’s a hazard of outdoor shows. Now I’m going to go home and work on a quilt.”

Silversmith Annie O’Kane was just as disappointed. “I love outdoor festivals,” she said.

But those who still lingered on South Ann Arbor Street in early afternoon showed they hadn’t lost their sense of humor.

Assisting Helen Martin was Terri Sibo-Koenig, who went hatless and was drenched to the skin. She said that for her, the cancellation “added to the humiliation of wet underpants.” Thinking about this a moment, she added, “Maybe commando-style would’ve been better.”

But the rain eventually stopped, and organizers are going ahead with evening events like a blackjack tournament and a chicken dinner.

Details about the Harvest of the Arts and Oktoberfest festival are available at salinedma.org/hoa/.

photo by Lon Horwedel: Kitty Mitzel, 3, Saline, and her brother Michael, 2, climb aboard their Radio Flyer wagon so their dad can pull them through the rain during Saturday's Saline Summerfest.