Rain along with the threat of heavy winds and lightning left Main Street empty Saturday morning.

The bad weather canceled the 35th annual Butler Fall Festival shortly after it started.

“It's very disappointing after a year's worth of hard work,” said Sheri Hershberger, the event's leading coordinator. “You can never predict this craziness.”

The festival started at 11 a.m. and it was canceled just after that. It was scheduled to run until 5 p.m.

Hershberger said the festival will not be rescheduled this fall, but will return next September.

City police and the event staff decided shortly after this year's festival started that it was best to cancel.

“The police told us there is a threat of winds and lightning,” Hershberger said. “They recommended we close and we agreed.”

More than 100 vendors were registered to fill Main Street for the festival.

Visitors who were hoping to see six live bands, classic cars, and chain saw carvings were disappointed.

Vendors who braved the wet weather to set up their tents barely had enough time to get settled before having to pack up.

“I am very disappointed,” said Angela McTighe of Butler, who has a photography studio in the city.

“I've been to the festival in the past, but this was my first time setting up at the festival,” she said.

Though McTighe was disappointed, she said she hopes to attend next year.

“I'll just watch the weather a little closer,” she joked.

Jen McCurdy of Butler kept her spirits up while packing her display booth.

“It is a big disappointment, but what can you do,” she said.

McCurdy, who is the manager of the Great Clips hair salon at Butler Crossing, said she too will return next year.

“Oh, we'll certainly be back next year,” she said.

Joanne DeCola and Chris Love, both of Butler, remained in their booth representing the Butler Montessori School long after other vendors had left.

“This is one of our primary fundraisers, so we're sticking it out as long as we can,” DeCola said.

DeCola and Love are both teachers at the school, which offers preschool and kindergarten classes at the Covenant Presbyterian Church on East Jefferson street.

“It's a shame we had so much rain today,” DeCola said. “It was beautiful yesterday, and it's supposed to be nice again tomorrow.”

Love said they have been vendors at the festival for more than 10 years and she never remembers it being canceled.

“A few years ago we had the aftermath of a hurricane, but the festival stayed open all day,” she said.

Asked this morning if the festival has been canceled in the past, Mayor Maggie Stock said, “I don't think so. I don't think there has ever been an official cancellation.”

While disappointed by this year's weather, DeCola said the importance of the festival was enough to get vendors to come back year after year.

“It's a great event,” DeCola said.

Love agreed with the importance.

“It really allows people to see downtown,” she said.

Bringing people downtown was what Hershberger said was the main goal of the festival.

“It is an opportunity to see what our city has to offer in its downtown and a place for the community to enjoy crafts, entertainment and food,” she said.