NATCHEZ — Instead of balloons, the 30th Great Mississippi River Balloon Race festival grounds had something else flying over it Sunday — kites.

David George, from New Orleans, was one of a few people at the balloon race festival grounds flying kites Sunday afternoon. George had come to Natchez for his first balloon race.

“Still haven’t gone to a balloon race,” George said.

The same winds which helped fly George’s kite made balloon race officials decide not to hold the morning’s race, meaning none of the weekend’s competitive flights could lift off. Balloon Meister Bill Cunningham said having none of the competitive flights take off was something he’d rarely seen at Natchez or anywhere else.

“I don’t think we’ve ever missed all the flights,” Cunningham said.

But Cunningham said that, although the wind might not have seemed strong on the ground Sunday morning, it was three times the speed higher up.

“When you go up at three or 400 feet, the wind was probably blowing 20 knots,” Cunningham said.

Because balloon pilots would have had to transfer from a high speed to a low speed when landing, it would have made it difficult to control the balloon.

Pilot Bruce Bussey began packing up the gear for his balloon, Lakerat, right after the morning flight had been cancelled. Bussey was preparing for the trip back to his Longview, Texas, home. While Bussey said he was disappointed he didn’t get to fly, Bussey said the worst scenario would be for someone to get hurt.

“Mother Nature makes the call,” Bussey said. “The main thing to do is stay safe.”

But Bussey said he still intends to return for next year’s race.

“We love it down here, and we will be back,” Bussey said.

Even though the Saturday and Sunday competitive races were cancelled, pilots and crews still gathered at The Vue Hotel for staff and volunteer recognition, as well as breakfast and the announcement of the winners from Friday’s biathlon where bicyclists and balloons worked together to compete.

Pilot Wynn Gustafson and cyclist Kevin Dukes came in first place, followed by pilot Bert Carollo and cyclists Tommy Smith and Chris Trippe in second and pilot Bob Pulaski and cyclist Will Devening in third.

Over at the festival grounds, Sarah Watson from Delhi, La., looked at the rides with her two sons in the afternoon. She came to the area Friday and wasn’t able to see any balloons.

“That was OK,” Watson said. “We still had a great time.”

Watson’s son, 13-year-old Spencer Williams, agreed with her.

“I was looking forward to (the balloons), but still a fun weekend in and of itself,” Williams said.

Natchez resident April Till managed to see a few balloons Friday morning, but Sunday afternoon saw her outside of one of the festival rides, Dizzy Dragons, waiting for her grandchildren.

“It’s still fun down here even though the balloons didn’t go up,” Till said. “Lots of activities.”

For his part, George said he enjoyed seeing the city for the first time, describing Natchez as more laid-back than his New Orleans home.

“Probably be back before next year,” George said.