Soggy start to annual Festival des Montgolfières

The morning hot air balloon show at the Internationale de montgolfières de Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu had to be cancelled because of the weather.

Rain and winds grounded the festival's 125 balloons. They usually take off at 6 a.m. if conditions are favourable.

"The temperatures are unstable so we can't fly at this time," said the festival's director of takeoffs, Sylvain Tremblay.

About 350,000 people usually attend the annual event, which runs until Aug. 21.

Beyond the balloons, it also features about a 150 concerts by Quebec stars such as Arianne Moffatt and les Cowboys Fringants.