By Rick Wright

Staff Writer

A light but steady rain canceled hot air balloon rides but failed to dampen spirits of several hundred people who turned out for Cape Elizabeth’s Family Fun Day at Fort Williams Park last Saturday.

Nicholas Romano of South Portland, there with his family to celebrate his ninth birthday, was first in line to try a new attraction called Extreme Air Jumper.

Strapped into a harness attached to two bungee cords, the third-grader showed off his acrobatic skills with back flips, somersaults and bouncing high into the air.

“It was really, really awesome,” Romano said. “Once you do a flip, it’s kind of hard to flip back because it’s already tight.”

“It’s my son’s birthday tomorrow and we are making this a yearly event to come on his birthday,” said Kirsten Romano, Nicholas’ mother.

Near the beach at Ship Cove, Michael Schmitc of Cape Elizabeth pushed his son Erik, 2, in a swing as they waited for the hot air balloon rides to begin.

“We were here last year for the parade, which he really enjoyed,” Schmitc said. “We were hoping that this year he’d be old enough for the balloon but it looks like the weather is not cooperating today. We’ll just do what we can in the morning and enjoy the park.”

Ted Smith, a member of the organizing committee, wasn’t exactly sure when the Family Fun Day began but he said it’s been going on for “well over 15 years.”

Family Fun Day is organized by volunteers and gives local nonprofits such as sports boosters, community service organizations and religious groups a chance to raise money to support their causes. 

Vendors offered food of all kinds, from the Cape Elizabeth Lions Club’s traditional festival fare of hamburgers, hot dogs and sodas to South Portland/Cape Elizabeth Rotary Club’s fried dough and the Cape Hockey booth’s french fries.

Family Fun Day organizers don’t track exactly how much money each nonprofit raises but Smith said most average between $200 and $300 per year after expenses.

Revelers were treated to a parade that featured little league baseball and softball players, bands, fire trucks, police cruisers and many antique vehicles, from cars to tractors.

 The schedule of events included live music, a dog show, talent show, face painting, train rides and rock climbing.

Students from the Cape Elizabeth High School Theater program raised money to support their fall musical by selling brownies, cup cakes, T-shirts and water.

Peter Campbell, 16, one of the theater students at Fun Day, said he comes to the festival every year.

“It’s a tradition for most residents of Cape Elizabeth I think,” Campbell said. “I’ve been coming since I was a kid.”

Several artists set up tents at the festival displaying crafts yhat included everything from paintings to jewelry.

Throughout the day, children had many opportunities to try their skills at a variety of games from ring toss to darts to baseball toss.

Christine Mackenzie of Cape Elizabeth attended with her son Michael, daughter Lilly and Lilly’s friend, Lilly Norris.

The group was disappointed they couldn’t take a balloon ride, but planned to take advantage of other activities that went on as scheduled.

Mackenzie said one of her favorite things at Family Fun Day was getting a hamburger from the Knights of Columbus booth. “It’s the best burger of the year. I hope they’re here today,” Mackenzie said.