With the first-ever “Wings Over Wiscasset” in the books, organizers are looking ahead to the future of the event that drew thousands to the Wiscasset Municipal Airport on August 6.

Does it have a future? Town Manager Laurie Smith said all the partners in the project will have to decide, but, based on her own observations that day and the comments she’s been hearing, she can picture “Wings” becoming an annual event.

“So far I've heard very good things,” Smith said about the premiere.

“I am so tickled,” Airport Manager Ervin Deck said. “There are a thousand things you can't plan for, but the volunteers worked endlessly ... In every respect, it was a success.”

The “Wings Over Wiscasset” or “WOW” committee was already making plans to meet again soon to debrief about the event, Smith said.

Weeks ahead of “Wings,” organizers hoped as many as 10,000 people might come; Afterward, event producer Dennis St. Pierre estimated the turnout at about 4,200; Smith said August 8 she believes attendance hit the 5,000 mark.

One factor that may have cut both ways in attendance was holding it on a weekday. Smith said there were people who made a point to come for part of it, but couldn't catch as much of it as they would have if it had been held on a weekend.

However, a weekend event would have had to compete with other ones, like the Maine Lobster Festival in Rockland the weekend before “Wings,” Smith noted.

Organizers favored a weekday so summer day camps including those in Wiscasset would be able to bring their youth.

Speaking to Wiscasset area senior citizens at the Wiscasset Community Center August 7, Wiscasset Selectmen's Chairman Ed Polewarczyk said he expects “Wings” to go on.

Planning will begin further out from the event next time, Polewarczyk said. The WOW Committee began meeting last January to prepare for this year's event.

The weather St. Pierre said he put in for this year turned out to be ideal, with no threat of  scuttling the Texas Flying Legends Museum Warbirds' airshow or the fireworks.

Other activities included wartime talks, a science presentation, a freedom-themed concert and static shows of the World War II planes and antique autos.

This was the Warbirds' third year at Wiscasset, and the best weather yet for the airshow, Deck said.

Susan Johns can be reached at 207-844-4633 or susanjohns@wiscassetnewspaper.com.