NATCHEZ &8212; In spite of rain and wind, this year&8217;s Great Mississippi River Balloon Race was a success, officials and attendants said Sunday.

Weather cancelled all but Saturday&8217;s morning race and the Friday night glow.

&8220;We just finished the pilots&8217; breakfast, and they all had such a great time,&8221; Executive Director Laura Godfrey said. &8220;Even if they don&8217;t fly, they enjoy being in Natchez.&8221;

The rain dampened gate sales a little, but the race is for more than just selling tickets, she said.

&8220;Part of our mission statement is really not that we make a bundle of money,&8221; she said. &8220;But try to make enough to put on an event next year and market Natchez as a whole.&8221;

Crew Coordinator Sally Durkin said she thought the race was successful despite the drizzle.

&8220;The little bit of flying we did get in Saturday morning was so great,&8221; Durkin said.

Volunteer Ralph &8220;Trippy&8221; Shields III said he thought the weekend was &8220;an unqualified success.&8221;

The bands were an especially big draw, he said.

&8220;(Saturday night) the final three acts got on stage at one time and played,&8221; Shields said. &8220;They had fun, and the people who came had fun.&8221;

Attendants who listened to musicians and rode the carnival rides on the bluff Sunday afternoon agreed.

Natchez resident Dorianna Quinones and her daughter Antonia enjoyed Sunday afternoon&8217;s entertainment.

&8220;(My friends and I) get to listen to the music, and the kids can ride the rides,&8221; Quinones said. &8220;We&8217;ve been out here three days straight. The kids have really enjoyed it.&8221;

Angie Strahan said she and her two children are regulars at the event.

&8220;We come every year for the kids,&8221; Strahan said.

James Arbuthnot and Gloria Davis, both of Natchez, came to see Y.Z. Ealey and band.

&8220;We saw the balloons last year, but this is our first year here (at the festival grounds),&8221; Arbuthnot said. &8220;It&8217;s nice. We&8217;re enjoying it, and we&8217;ll be back next year.&8221;