CENTERVILLE -- Americana Festival's fireworks show took off with flying colors on try two.
Fans waited in the rain, in the stands, and eventually in traffic, all without seeing a single spark light up the sky.
"It can happen. You hope not, but it does happen every now and then," Christopher Henn of Centerville said Friday.
But fans weren't the only ones who suffered a loss.
"It was probably down to 50% compared to normal years, " Flint's Concession owner Chuck Flint reflected,
"I think there's gonna be a good crowd tonight. They didn't get to see them last night. I think they'll still show up."
And he was right. Slowly but surely, the crowd started to roll in.
Kevin Allen and his family were staked out Thursday night over 3 hours in the rain. He showed up again Friday and claimed the same spot.
"I would've stayed had it poured rain and they still shot, I would've stayed," Allen said.
The show began promptly at 10pm and didn't disappoint it's fans on it's second attempt. The fireworks concludes the Americana Festival's events for 2013.
EARLIER....
CENTERVILLE --Crews work around the clock to ensure an Americana Festival Fireworks show on second try.
Crews are braving the cornfield, working overtime back there to give fans the show you they missed out on Thursday.
Washington Township Fire Marshals wouldn't allow our crew to the firework site because its become a muddy, dangerous mess.
"We brought chairs and when the band didn't show up we sat we sat we sat," Andy Witman shared with us on Friday.
And so did thousands of others who packed the Centerville High School bleachers and parking lot. Thousands who waited for sparks in the night sky that would ultimately remain dark.
"If it's light to moderate rain we have no issue whatsoever. This and even more. Three times this," Show Director Bill Greene said Thursday.
The technical director and crew behind the fireworks was confident the show would get off the ground in the constant downpours. But the mix of rain and mud was a lethal combination.
"We're actually sinking down into this cornfield that's plowed 6 inches deep," Greene added.
The firework company's owner tells us even though they were able to keep the fireworks dry, the equipment was a different story.
The computers and wiring got drenched and started showing unusual readings at showtime.
We're told brand new computers- with a simpler set up- were brought on site today along with additional crew. They will also move all of the equipment further away from the cornfield to more stable land.
But even some who left yesterday dissatisfied still believe in second chances.
"Accidents happen. You can't predict Mother Nature," Theresa Russell says she is coming back for round two.
Gates open at 8:30pm. The show starts at 10pm.
Fans waited in the rain, in the stands, and eventually in traffic, all without seeing a single spark light up the sky.
"It can happen. You hope not, but it does happen every now and then," Christopher Henn of Centerville said Friday.
But fans weren't the only ones who suffered a loss.
"It was probably down to 50% compared to normal years, " Flint's Concession owner Chuck Flint reflected,
"I think there's gonna be a good crowd tonight. They didn't get to see them last night. I think they'll still show up."
And he was right. Slowly but surely, the crowd started to roll in.
Kevin Allen and his family were staked out Thursday night over 3 hours in the rain. He showed up again Friday and claimed the same spot.
"I would've stayed had it poured rain and they still shot, I would've stayed," Allen said.
The show began promptly at 10pm and didn't disappoint it's fans on it's second attempt. The fireworks concludes the Americana Festival's events for 2013.
EARLIER....
CENTERVILLE --Crews work around the clock to ensure an Americana Festival Fireworks show on second try.
Crews are braving the cornfield, working overtime back there to give fans the show you they missed out on Thursday.
Washington Township Fire Marshals wouldn't allow our crew to the firework site because its become a muddy, dangerous mess.
"We brought chairs and when the band didn't show up we sat we sat we sat," Andy Witman shared with us on Friday.
And so did thousands of others who packed the Centerville High School bleachers and parking lot. Thousands who waited for sparks in the night sky that would ultimately remain dark.
"If it's light to moderate rain we have no issue whatsoever. This and even more. Three times this," Show Director Bill Greene said Thursday.
The technical director and crew behind the fireworks was confident the show would get off the ground in the constant downpours. But the mix of rain and mud was a lethal combination.
"We're actually sinking down into this cornfield that's plowed 6 inches deep," Greene added.
The firework company's owner tells us even though they were able to keep the fireworks dry, the equipment was a different story.
The computers and wiring got drenched and started showing unusual readings at showtime.
We're told brand new computers- with a simpler set up- were brought on site today along with additional crew. They will also move all of the equipment further away from the cornfield to more stable land.
But even some who left yesterday dissatisfied still believe in second chances.
"Accidents happen. You can't predict Mother Nature," Theresa Russell says she is coming back for round two.
Gates open at 8:30pm. The show starts at 10pm.