LEWISTON — Todd Pomerleau stood near the edge of Simard-Payne Memorial Park on Friday night and watched his children bouncing around inside a pair of inflatable balls. “Boy,” Pomerleau said. “That looks fun.” It was just past 6 p.m. and still there were no signs of the balloons. By early evening on the first day […]
great falls balloon festival
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
No balloon launch Friday night
Updated 7:25 pm: Some crews are firing their burners for show. The Elvis Tribute balloon might inflate for moon glow if the wind dies. Updated 7:02 p.m.: There is no launches tonight, and it doesn’t look like there will be any inflation. We’re calling it a night. Hopefully we will have a launch livestream at […]
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Posted inLewiston-Auburn, sj-web
Festival traffic advisory
The public is asked to use extra caution in the Twin Cities this weekend because some roads will be closed and others will be down to one lane to accommodate visitors attending the Great Falls Balloon Festival. On Friday, the Longley Bridge, heading into Lewiston from Auburn, was reduced to one lane and will remain […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn, sj-web
First balloon ride was welcomed by the wind and blessed by the sun
LEWISTON — With no sleep but a whole lot of enthusiasm, I arrived at Simard-Payne Memorial Park at about 5 a.m. The field was mostly empty and the sky was still its deep, dusky blue, etched with a few remaining stars that would soon disappear into the bright morning sky. They winked at me as they faded, and I felt as though they were wishing us a safe, fun journey.
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Great Falls Balloon Festival: Photos and video from Friday morning
It was a great morning for a balloon launch. We have photos and video from Friday morning’s launch of the Great Falls Balloon Festival.
Posted inLife & Culture
Photo contest: You could win a balloon ride
One lucky winner will win a pair of tickets for Sunday evening’s (Aug. 19) balloon launch. Share your picture with us, our newsroom team will pick a winner. You can start submitting photos Friday morning.
Posted inLewiston-Auburn, sj-web
Balloonists eye weather as festival kicks off
LEWISTON — Carnival rides waited silent and ready at Simard-Payne Memorial Park on Thursday, A day before the official launch of the Great Falls Balloon Festival. Vendor tents flapped in the breeze at the edge of a bright green field. There were one or two people poking around, but mostly the park was vacant and still. […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn, sj-web
Balloon festival rocks 'n' rolls into town Friday
Everybody, let’s rock! The king of rock ‘n’ roll will appear at the 26th annual Great Falls Balloon Festival as both a performer and as a hot air balloon, along with other throwbacks to the music and culture of the past, with a focus on the 1960s and ’70s. The theme of this year’s festival: […]
Posted inLife & Culture
How to get a hot air balloon ride
Balloon rides are available for six launches throughout the weekend. Morning launches are at 6 a.m. and evening flights are at 6 p.m. All balloon rides are free-flying and go where the wind takes them. Balloons range in size from two to 10 passengers. At the end of each balloon ride there will be a […]
Posted inLife & Culture
What you need to know about watching the balloons
The Great Falls Balloon Festival provides an experience that is rare in the world of hot air balloons. At most festivals, spectators are not allowed in the area where the balloons are launching. However, there are challenges that come along with having such an up-close-and-personal venue. The main launch site is small, the visiting balloons […]