Nine new balloon shapes will be seen at this
year’s Adirondack Balloon Festival set Sept. 17-
20 in Glens Falls and Queensbury.
It is the 43rd annual event.
This year, the logo is a maple leaf shape in
autumnal tones with a moose, trees and hot air
balloons silhouetted.
The event will include balloons, including
first-timers Snobird and Humpty Dumpty, owned
by Richard Lawhorn of Louisville, Ky.; longtime
crowd favorite Purple People Eater; Sunny Boy,
reappearing after more than a decade away; Betty-
Jean the butterfly, whose one visit to the balloon
festival was during less-than-stellar weather and
it was therefore only inflated briefly; Pandy the
Panda Bear; Stinky the skunk; Pig Headed; and
Joelly, the baby bee.
Organizers said special VIP parking will
be available once again this year. Special
designated parking at the airport’s main
entrance is available for $15 for the weekend.
Parking passes can be purchased online at www.adirondackballoonfest.org and passes may be
purchased at Glens Falls City Hall in the clerk’s
office, Queensbury Town Office , Warren County
Municipal Center (treasurer’s office) and Warren
County Department of Public Works offices in
Warrensburg.
The event kicks off on Thursday, Sept. 17 at
4 p.m. at Crandall Park in Glens Falls. Events
continue through the weekend at Floyd Bennett
Memorial Airport (Warren County Airport).
The Adirondack Balloon Festival is a nonprofit organization governed and operated
by volunteers. Organizers said the event relies
on community support for its funding. For 43
years, the balloon festival has been free of charge
to the public to attend.
The Festival attracts 125,000-150,000
thousand people to the region each year and
has a substantial impact to the region’s economy,
according to the organizers.
The schedule for the three days includes:
Opening ceremonies at 5 p.m. on Thursday,
Sept. 17, followed by a flight of up to 20 balloons.
From 6-9:30 p.m., Glens Falls will host a block
party featuring balloon baskets on display, a car
show and kid’s activities.
On Friday, Sept. 18 at the airport, gates open at 3
p.m. and there will be a craft fair hosted by Zonta,
with kid’s activities and food vendors open for
business. From 5-6:15 p.m., there will be a flight
of up to 80 balloons, including special shapes.
On Saturday, Sept. 19 at the airport, a “Big
Balloon Breakfast” is set for 5-11 a.m. at the
airport hangar: $8 for adults and $6 for seniors.
Food vendors will be open 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. The
Zonta craft fair will be present, as will activities for kids, including bounce houses, crafts, games,
aircraft static display.
From 6:30-7:30 a.m. there will be a flight of
up to 100 balloons. Live music will take place
2-4:45 p.m. Another flight of up to 100 balloons
is slated for 5-6:15 p.m. Music resumes at 6:15
p.m. and at 8 p.m. is the special “Lighting Up
The Night Airport Moonglow” featuring 30-plus
balloons.
Sunday, Sept. 20, will have another “Big Balloon
Breakfast” 5-11 p.m. Food vendors open for
business, and the craft Fair hosted by ZONTA
returns, as do kids’ activities. “Walter’s Mass
Ascension,” a simultaneous flight of up to 100
balloons is scheduled for 6:30-7:30 a.m.
From 2-5 p.m. there will be musical
performances and at 5 p.m.a, a launch of 20-
plus balloons.
Flight times are approximate and all activities
weather permitting. No dogs and no drones or
remote control aircraft are allowed.
For more details, visit www.adirondackballoonfest.org or call 222-4593.
Photos Courtesy Adirondack Balloon Festival
