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The 50th edition of the city's signature summer event ended Thursday night with both a bang and a whimper.

With the International Village audience soaked by a torrential downpour and the skies threatening to deliver a severe electrical storm, officials canceled last night's headline entertainer, Irish folk singer Cahal Dunne.

But the closing fireworks over Renziehausen Park --- a display costing $10,000, according to City Councilman Darryl Segina, the outgoing chairman of International Village --- went off as planned, albeit about an hour early.

As it turned out, much of the severe storm that everyone was expecting bypassed the city. By the time that became apparent, unfortunately, many food and craft vendors were already closed. (One vendor told us privately she lost about two-thirds of her expected Thursday sales.)

With the infield at Stephen Barry Field already turning into a swamp --- and with a terrific lightning storm on the horizon --- the decision to close was probably a prudent one. But besides Dunne's performance, it also forced the city to skip a planned tribute to police, fire and emergency personnel.

During a break in the rain, Mayor Jim Brewster and Council President Regis McLaughlin honored longtime softball coach Eddie Stanko; the Daily News on the occasion of its 125th anniversary; and Segina, who served as chairman of International Village for 16 years.

Segina thanked his wife Barbara ("still the love of my life," he said) and International Village coordinator Dorothy Kuharski for their support and predicted "the Village" would remain a regional tradition for another 50 years "as long as the integrity of the ethnic food, music and dancing is maintained."

Noting that 30 different ethnic traditions had come together in harmony in Renziehausen Park this year, Segina also issued a heartfelt prayer that nations around the world would someday be able to live in similar peace.

Audio report from Day 3 (2.8 MB, MP3)