Oyster festival charitable trust chairman John Edminstin shut the May 24 festival down soon after torrential rain and gales struck about 1pm, three hours into the popular annual event.
The festival usually makes a healthy surplus.
While this year's figures were not yet finalised, Mr Edminstin said he expected it to break even or be ''just in the black''.
Every year, Bluff community groups help with aspects of the festival such as security and rubbish collection in return for a donation.
The trust had paid the groups almost $20,000 this year, he said.
''Many groups said they didn't want any money, but we paid them anyway.''
Because the festival had been abandoned, no refunds on tickets were given, he said.
''Ninety-nine percent of people were very understanding and said `see you next year'.
"They realised we had to abandon it ... The most important thing was safety. We closed it down in time and St John treated no-one [for injuries].''
Earlier this year, the trust bought two adjoining properties in central Bluff and arranged to lease two neighbouring pieces of land from the Invercargill City Council.
Construction of a permanent home for the festival was expected to begin in September, Mr Edminstin said.
Three large iron and steel sheds would be erected, creating shelter for food stalls plus a stage and backstage ''green room'' waiting area around the edge of a large courtyard.
One of the sheds would be large enough to house a netball court, and Mr Edminstin said it was hoped the sheds would be used for netball and other community events.
''Anyone in Bluff can use them for anything they like. We want this to be a community asset.''
