ATTLEBORO - Neither rain nor thunder could keep the Lees Pond Appreciation Festival from going on Sunday.

Some of the planned activities did not take place and only about half the usual crowd showed up, but a good time was still had by all, according to Jessie Armell, a member of the Lees Pond Festival Committee.

"Our spirits were not dampened by the rain," Armell said. "It was a very spirited event. We had a good time."

The event is sponsored each year by the South Attleboro Lions Club and the South Attleboro Village Lions Club as a way of expressing their gratitude for the ongoing support from the community.

Despite some activities that did not take place, the festival featured its traditional food court, games and music as well as some new attractions.

Among the new attractions were the Power League Wrestling group, which Armell said were a big hit with the children, as they offered several rounds of competition, and the Rehoboth Minutemen, which Armell said several times throughout the event offered blacksmithing and other demonstrations. Among the repeat festival favorites, Armell said the watermelon-eating contest was a big hit as was the dunk tank, which featured a couple of well-known figures getting dunked, such as Coelho Middle School Principal Jim Rose and Father James Fahey from St. Theresa's Church

And, as for the traditional food court, the prices were still a big hit with families, according to Armell, who said, the festival was "still the cheapest place you can go to get food. Tickets were three for $1. So, we had a good time," he said.

Janette Sears can be reached by phone or fax at 508-222-2442 or by e-mail at janette@janettesears.com.