Rain in Maine keeps Martha on the plane: forced to skip N.S. pumpkin festival

Photo: Martha Stewart stands next to a 994 pound giant pumpkin at the vegetable show at The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto Friday, November 8, 2002.

 Martha Stewart's on again-off again trip to a pumpkin festival in Nova Scotia was off completely Sunday, thanks to rain in Maine that kept her on the plane. But residents of Windsor, who braved a downpour to watch competitors paddle pumpkins across a lake in the annual Pumpkin Regatta, were already calling on the doyenne of home decor to try again next year. Stewart's flight was grounded Sunday morning at the Hancock County-Bar Harbor Airport as heavy rains fell along the east coast. The business tycoon and convicted felon had planned to arrive in the small community just before a parade for the Children's Wish Foundation. She was then expected to settle into a giant, hollowed-out pumpkin and paddle her way across Lake Pesaquid, alongside 40 other competitors. "Certainly, everybody was a little bit disappointed," said VanEssa Roberts, a town spokeswoman. "Everybody's safety has to come first, and the pilot just determined it wasn't safe to leave." Stewart's film crew arrived in Nova Scotia the day before the race to decorate the monstrous, locally-grown gourd.

The 300-kilogram pumpkin was painted in stripes of Stewart's signature colours: pastels of blue, orange, yellow and green and with Stewart's appearance rained out, one of her field producers piloted the giant pumpkin. Howard Dill, whose family farm grew what was supposed to be Stewart's pumpkin, said a lot of people still showed up to watch. "They had a lot of spunk for coming up," said Dill. "I never heard anyone say anything very negative (about Stewart's cancellation). They understood." Dill said Stewart's producer finished in the bottom five, but not dead last. "She didn't do too bad - it's quite a distance across that lake," said Dill. Dill kept the seeds from the pumpkin Stewart was supposed to use, and plans to send her some once they're dry. The town has been in the national spotlight ever since Stewart announced her attendance more than a week ago. But her trip to Nova Scotia was plagued from the beginning. Canadian officials had initially refused Stewart, 64, entry into the country because of her conviction for lying about a stock sale. But that issue was cleared up late last week. CTV Newsnet even planned live coverage of the race - plans that were scuttled when Stewart didn't show. Despite the border troubles and cancelled visit, Dill hopes Stewart tries to attend next year's regatta. "When she sees all the clips and the video from what went on here today, that will have her biting at the bit to come back here," said Dill. Scott Brison, the federal public works minister and the MP for the area, was among several politicians to attend the regatta. Brison, who has competed in the regatta twice and won once, issued a challenge to Stewart. "I retired as a champion pumpkin paddler a few years ago, but I will go back in the race next year if she's in it," said Brison from his home in Cheverie, N.S., after the event. "We were certainly disappointed that Martha couldn't be there. But the excitement around her visit this time will grow significantly for her next visit. Word of the cancellation spread around the small town quickly. Windsor resident Patricia MacAskill heard Sunday morning from a friend who had heard on the radio. "I think they were a bit disappointed, but they still managed to have a good time," MacAskill, 35, said after the regatta was finished. MacAskill said people were already talking about Stewart coming next year. Event organizers would only say they would welcome the idea. "If Ms. Stewart wanted to come next year, we would welcome her with open arms," said Roberts. As for the race, 70-year-old Leo Swinimer won his third straight win in the paddling category, crossing the lake in just under 11 minutes. His son, Leo Swinimer Jr., took the top prize in the motorized division, finishing in just over five minutes.