LEWISTON — Lewiston will take on a “galaxy far, far away” look and feel during the Great Falls Balloon Festival in Lewiston Aug. 19-21.

This theme of year’s balloon festival is “The Force Takes Flight,” picking up on the popularity of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” movie, released last December.

The festival, now in its 24th year, has a mission to promote Lewiston-Auburn and help more than 30 nonprofits whose volunteers man booths selling food and other items to help raise money for their charities.

On Friday, Storm Troopers and other “Star Wars” characters will invade, as adults in costume mingle with the crowd.

Darth Vader and Master Yoda speciality hot air balloons will be present during the festival, along with 21 other balloons, more than in recent years.

The Darth Vader balloon is piloted by Benoit Lambert; the Master Yoda balloon piloted by Michael Lambert. Both pilots are based in Belgium.

Darth Vader is 86 feet high, 69 feet wide; Yoda, 62 feet high, 92 feet wide. The balloons were built in Great Britain, their designed approved by Lucasfilm Ltd.

They’re generating a lot of buzz.

“People are really excited,” said festival spokeswoman Dawn Hartill. “Our website traffic and Facebook likes and shares are far beyond anything we’ve had in previous years. People are very excited about these balloons and the theme.”

After learning that people would like more balloons at the event, the festival committee delivered. Six new balloons are coming, including Wonder Bread from Kansas, Lite Bright from Rhode Island, and Sally Lidinsky piloting Quarter-Life Crisis from New Jersey. Matt Lidinsky from New Jersey will pilot Windswept.

The 15 returning favorites will include Last Penny from Connecticut, Freedom Flyer from Florida, Going Batty from Pennsylvania, and hometown Tailwinds, piloted by Lewiston’s Jim Rodrigue.

Balloon rides are available at most of the launches, said Marcus Talarico, festival board vice president and ride coordinator. The cost is $200 per person. 

Throughout the weekend, the festival’s “Force” theme will linger.

On Friday night at 4 p.m. until after the launch, Stormtroopers from the 501st, a group of worldwide “Star Wars” villain costumers, and the Maine chapter of the Mandalorian Mercs Costuming Club in Boba Fett outfits, will be in the Simard-Payne Memorial Park.

“It will be cool to have Stormtroopers walking around, interacting with people,” Talarico said. “It will add to the whole theme.”

The “Force” is attracting fans from outside Lewiston-Auburn, he said. The theme is attracting some who have never been to the event, who are planning their vacations around the festival.

“A lot of people want to take a ride on Darth Vader,” he said.

The speciality balloons often don’t take any riders, however, as the oversized balloons limit the number of passengers. Besides the crew, Yoda cannot take any riders, and Darth Vader can take only one.

On Saturday during the festival parade, there’ll be a Star Wars costume contest. The winner will get a ride on Darth Vader.

There will also be a contest for the float that reflects this year’s “The Force Takes Flight” theme.

Another first-time event will be a comedy hour Saturday night, said award-winning amateur comedian Dawn Hartill. Five comedians will perfrom from 7:15 to 8:30 p.m. on the main stage. 

“We’ve never had a comedy event,” she said.

The New England comedians will provide family-styled laughter with no vulgarity, Hartill said.

Besides Hartill, the comedians are headliner Jerry Caruso of Boston, as well as Mark Reilly, Peter Ouellette and host Mark Turcotte.

Also new will be Pups in the Air, featuring canines who excel at leaping. The dogs will perform in three 30-minute shows during the festival, twice on Saturday, once on Sunday. After each show, fans will be able to go up and meet the dogs’ trainers, Hartill said.

In addition to concerts through the festival both in Lewiston and Auburn’s Festival Plaza, Sunday’s events include children’s concerts by Grammy-nominated Judy Pancoast in Lewiston at noon and 2 p.m.

Between balloon launches Saturday and Sunday, there will be a carnival, demonstrations and activities for adults and children. And lots of local food.

Hartill, a festivalgoer since she moved to Lewiston in 1997, has volunteered for several years before serving on the board.

“I like the hometown feeling,” she said. “The whole community comes together just to watch the balloons. And it’s free. It’s free and it helps so many nonprofits.”

 

Festival highlights:

Friday

LEWISTON, Simard-Payne Memorial Park

4 p.m. — Stormtroopers and other “Force” characters will begin to appear and mingle with crowds

4 – 10 p.m. — Food booths open

5 p.m. — Arrival of balloons with commentary from pilot Rick Jones

6 p.m. — Balloons launch, weather permitting

6:30 – 10 p.m. — Performances by Impari & Sahara Desert Dancers, The Coteries, Robert Washington as Elvis

9 p.m. — Moonglow (rain date Saturday)

AUBURN 

4 – 10 p.m. — More events at Festival Plaza

5 – 9 p.m. — Ravensbridge village encampment at Bonney Park, Auburn

Saturday

LEWISTON

5:30 a.m. — Balloons arrive

6 a.m. — Balloons launch, weather permitting

6-10 a.m. — Pancake breakfast

10 a.m. — Riding of Ravensbridge: fighting, combat archery and fencing demos

11 a.m. — Festival parade

11 a.m. – 10 p.m. — Food booths open

12:30 – 1:15 p.m. — Pups in the Air dog performance

2 p.m. — Pups in the Air

5 p.m. — Balloons arrive

6 p.m. — Balloons launch, weather permitting

7:15 – 8:30 p.m. — Comedy hour, main stage

8:45 – 10 p.m. — Yellow Brick Road concert

AUBURN 

11 a.m. – 10 p.m. — Food booths open, concerts at Festival Plaza

1  – 5:30 p.m. — Riding of Ravensbridge demos, fighting and march at Auburn’s Bonney Park, march to Simard-Payne Memorial Park at 3:45 p.m.

Sunday

LEWISTON

5:30 a.m. — Balloons arrive

6 a.m. — Balloons launch

6 – 10 a.m. — Pancake breakfast

11 a.m. – 6 p.m. and beyond — Children events, activities, carnival.

11 a.m. — Pups in the Air

Noon — Children’s concert by Grammy-nominationed Judy Pancoast, also performing at 2 p.m.

2 p.m. Children’s concert by Grammy-nominationed Judy Pancoast

5 p.m. — Balloons arrive

6 p.m. — Last balloon launch

 For complete listing, visit www.greatfallsballoonfestival.org.