A balloon rises Friday morning over downtown Lewiston during the Great Falls Balloon Festival. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal

Blake Boulanger, 9, of Auburn lifts off Friday morning with his grandparents, David and Diana Sargent of Lewiston, during the Great Falls Balloon Festival. Boulanger’s 11-year-old sister, Giselle, rode in a balloon with her grandparents when she was 9 years old as well. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal

Phillip Baker of Woolwich waits to climb into the basket of a hot air balloon Friday during the Great Falls Balloon Festival in Lewiston. Baker rode in Andre Boucher’s balloon with his wife, Marilyn, and daughter, Michelle. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal

Spencer Bade, 11, of Sabattus peeks inside the envelope Friday morning while helping crew for balloon pilot Derald Young of Dixfield during the Great Falls Balloon Festival in Lewiston. Bade’s mother, Sarah Bade, is next to her son. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal

Balloon pilot Jim Rodrigue of Lewiston was one of the first pilots to lift off Friday morning during the Great Falls Balloon Festival in Lewiston. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal

Balloon pilots set up Friday morning at Simard-Payne Memorial Park during the Great Falls Balloon Festival in Lewiston. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal

David and Diana Sargent of Lewiston prepare for their ride with balloon pilot Derald Young of Dixfield on Friday morning during the Great Falls Balloon Festival in Lewiston. The couple took their 9-year-old grandson, Blake Boulanger of Auburn, with them. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal

A crew member for balloon pilot Derald Young of Dixfield helps prepare for liftoff Friday morning during the Great Falls Balloon Festival in Lewiston. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal

Tomie Bergeron, 4, of Wales attends the Friday morning launch with his parents, Ben and Lauren, during the Great Falls Balloon Festival in Lewiston. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal

Simba the Lion, Tico the Sloth and Just Ducky fill with hot air Friday morning during the Great Falls Balloon Festival in Lewiston. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal

Balloon pilot Penny Christy of Middletown, Connecticut, fires up the burner Friday morning during the Great Falls Balloon Festival in Lewiston. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal