Sierra Madre Wistaria Festival Rained Out

The much anticipated has been completely rained out. Despite efforts to endure the storm, vendors packed up around 11:30 a.m. or so as police re-opened Baldwin Ave. and Sierra Madre Blvd. The few vistors who came out and pushed forward on their stroll along festival routes despite heavy winds and rain slowly dwindled. Bands were absent, so all that could be heard was the pattering of rain and occasional thunder.

A few hundred people were able to view the vine during morning hours before trolleys stopped driving people up for viewing around 1 p.m. due to a number of factors including: leaks in the trolley, windshield wipers breaking, even complete vehicle breakdown.

According to one volunteer docent, one trolley broke down on the I-210 freeway on its way to the festival. In the end, only one out of four trolleys was functioning, enough to bring some angery and cold visitors back down from the home of the vine.

Kevin Doran and his wife Linda Doran were among the few huddled beneath a tent hoping to still get a chance to view the vine. "We've been waiting for about half an hour," said the shivering Kevin Doran. Although the couple from Arcadia has been to the festival in the past, they have never seen the vine and were hoping to today.

Others who had planned to enjoy the day's festivities instead gathered inside Bean Town and Starbucks to play board games and try to stay warm and dry. Outside, the rain continued to pour as thunder rumbled from gray skies above. 

Anita Flemington, a resident of Sierra Madre for 30 years, was looking forward to the festival and the crowds of people who were expected. "Usually there are thousands of people filling up the streets, and in some years it has been a bit damp, but nothing like this," said Flemington, keeping dry beneath the awning in front of Starbucks. She had invited her sister from Pasadena to come out and expereince the festivities and despite the disappointing turnout, was hopeful that next year will be better.