The spring fair started smoothly. Families savored Clayboys snowcones, little kids jumped on the moon bounce, bands played live music and students lined up to throw pies at teachers. But people were running away by 6:30 p.m.

Two hours into the festival, people ran for cover as rain and ping pong ball-sized hail fell from the sky.

The storm started out as a drizzle. For the most part, people ignored the rain until it turned into a downpour, at which forcing everyone into more sheltered areas.

Students at the fair were caught off guard by the intensity of the storm.

“My mom told me it was going to hail,” said sophomore organizer Melissa Kantor. “I thought, ‘No. No way. Hail in May? Not possible.’”

Despite the violent weather, Kantor says she thinks the SGA made a profit from the fair for the first time. Though she hasn’t heard exactly how much money they made, she says they sold all 500 of their wristbands, which they’ve never done before.

Once the rain started, staff deflated the rides and temporarily shut down the games. But the fair quickly restarted after the storm calmed down.

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