Caden Facto, left, yawns early Sunday morning as he and his brother, Owen, right, wait for balloons to inflate at Simard-Payne Memorial Park in Lewiston on the last day of the Lewiston-Auburn Balloon Festival. Shortly after the launch was called off because of forecasted rain. They came from Connecticut with their mother, who grew up in the area. “We are used to this.” said their grandfather before they packed up and headed home. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

LEWISTON — Low cloud cover and expected rain grounded Sunday morning’s balloon launches, marking a fifth weather upset since the Lewiston-Auburn Balloon Festival began Friday.

Kimberly Madore, of Lewiston waits Sunday morning for balloons to inflate at Simard-Payne Memorial Park in Lewiston on the last day of the Lewiston-Auburn Balloon Festival. Shortly after the launch was called off because of forecasted rain. “We were going to come down last night, but heard the launch was canceled so we got up early this morning to see them.” said her father as they patiently waited for word on the launch. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

Since Friday, balloon launches have been canceled due to heavy fog, strong winds, low cloud cover and rain.

Crews inflated the balloons for show Friday and Saturday, but not Sunday due to an oncoming shower. Sunday’s morning crowd was the smallest of the three-day event.

“We can’t get the balloons wet. We just came down to tell people we can’t do it,” Bruce Byberg said. Byberg and his crew are in charge of the Remax balloon.

Balloons will try taking off one last time Sunday evening, weather permitting.

Sunday evening looks rainy, with “a 40% chance of showers in the area,” said Stephen Baron, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Gray.

“The winds will be pretty calm, around 5 miles per hour,” Baron said.

RE/MAX balloon pilot Bruce Byberg checks a radar app on his phone Sunday morning and sees a band of showers approaching moments before the morning launch was scrubbed at Simard-Payne Memorial Park in Lewiston on the last day of the Lewiston-Auburn Balloon Festival. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

In case of no launches, balloon ride tickets will be refunded, festival organizer Mel Hamlyn said Saturday.

The next balloon launch is scheduled for 6 p.m. Sunday at Simard-Payne Memorial Park, weather permitting. Sun Journal will be livestreaming the launches via YouTube.