For some, the festival was a way to make money for charity. For others, it was a way to have fun with family.
For 7-year-old Adriana Ellis of Farmingdale, it was all about the balloons.
“Mama, look at that one!” she squealed, jumping up and down as a rainbow-colored balloon slowly rose above the crowd Saturday evening. “I want a ride!”
Festival-goers and balloonists enjoyed some of the best weather the festival has seen in years. With little wind and clear skies, all 28 balloons took to the air Saturday morning, rising in waves until the sky was filled with color.
“It’s probably as beautiful of a launch as we’ve had,” balloon meister John Reeder said.
Shari Gosselin of Lewiston rode in a jack-in-the-box-shaped balloon, one of two speciality balloons at the festival. By 7 a.m. she was floating over the falls, watching the other balloons in the distance. Her balloon briefly did a “splash and dash,” purposely dipping low enough so the bottom of the basket touched water. Then it lifted higher and floated over the city.
“It was beautiful,” she said. “We went over my parents’ house. My mother was out on the porch, so I got to wave to her. “
People packed the park throughout the day. Although clouds threatened wet weather, vendors remained busy into the evening.
Sarah Schlax, 16, staffed a soda booth for the Lewiston High School music association. “Well, it hasn’t rained yet,” she said.
Beside her, 16-year-old Heather MacNeill nodded emphatically. “That’s always good.”
A half-hour later, it did begin to sprinkle, but that little bit of rain wasn’t enough to put off the launch. As crowds gathered to watch, crews filled balloon after balloon with hot air. Nearly all got into the air.
Shawna Ellis brought her two daughters, Adriana and 3-year-old Alexis, to the festival. Standing in the middle of the park, they were surrounded on all sides by balloons getting prepped for flight
Balloons used to float over Ellis’ home when she was a child. She wanted her own daughters to experience the thrill of watching them fly.
“I’ve always had a fascination with hot-air balloons,” she said as one began to rise next to her. “It still gives me goosebumps.”
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- Ava Cairns, 5, of Topsham, waves goodbye to a balloon lifting off Saturday evening from on top of her father William’s shoulders. A light sprinkle began to fall as the balloons rose into the air during Satruday evening’s launch at the 2010 Great Falls Balloon Festival.
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- Robbie Little, second from right, and his father, Dana Little of Auburn, watch as JACK! takes off from Simard-Payne Memorial Park in Lewiston during the Great Falls Balloon Festival on Saturday morning. The Littles paddled with the Great Falls Paddling Society, a group associated with the Androscoggin land Trust. Kayakers and canoeists will leave from the Little Androscoggin boat access area in New Auburn at 5 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Sunday.
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- Sara Hogate smiles as she and Chuck Derosby, both of Lewiston, get set to embark on their first ever-balloon ride during the Great Falls Balloon Festival on Saturday. The couple flew with pilot Andre Boucher of Derry, N.H.
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- A kayaker paddles along the Androscoggin River as Joe Hamilton of Rehoboth, Mass., pilots “D. Lightful” during the Great Falls Balloon Festival on Saturday morning. Paddlers with the Great Falls Paddling Society had a great morning to paddle as numerous balloons came down to the water for a “splash and dash.”
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- People gather on the Longley Bridge during the Great Falls Balloon Festival on Saturday morning. Balloons launched from both sides of the river and stayed around downtown because of the lack of wind.
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- Balloons rise into the air at Simard-Payne Memorial Park during the Great Falls Balloon Festival on Saturday morning.
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- Passengers wave to people on the Longley Bridge during the Great Falls Balloon Festival on Saturday morning.
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- Balloons pass over the Longley Bridge during the Great Falls Balloon Festival on Saturday morning. Balloons launched from both sides of the river and stayed around downtown because of the lack of wind.
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- Scenes from Satruday evening’s launch at the 2010 Great Falls Balloon Festival
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- Scenes from Satruday evening’s launch at the 2010 Great Falls Balloon Festival
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- Scenes from Satruday evening’s launch at the 2010 Great Falls Balloon Festival
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- Ava Cairns, 5, of Topsham, turns around and watches a balloon behind her father, William as the pilot lights his burner. The youngster loved the loud sound, but other youngsters, like the boy in the background, not so much. A light sprinkle began to fall as the balloons rose into the air during Satruday evening’s launch at the 2010 Great Falls Balloon Festival.
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- Scenes from Satruday evening’s launch at the 2010 Great Falls Balloon Festival
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