ADIRONDACK REGION, N.Y. (NEWS10) – The Annual Adirondack Balloon Festival kicks off Thursday night and goes through the weekend. NEWS10 was there for the start of one of the region’s favorite, family-friendly events.
The opening night of the 2024 Adirondack Balloon Festival at Crandall Park was a lift-off into a weekend full of festivities. A bunny-shaped balloon named Fred B. Rabbit was a favorite among young fans.
“I like the bunny one,” said Olivia Wallace, and her friends agreed, the bunny is their favorite balloon.
It’s operated by Keith Sproul, who is the owner of Sky Chariot. He started flying in 1998. His favorite part? “Flying and introducing new people to ballooning and seeing the expression on a kid’s face. I just love that,” said Sproul.
You can find Sproul in a dragon balloon, Scorch, that’s 145 feet tall Friday through Sunday at Floyd Bennett Memorial Airport.
Live music and vendors are sprinkled throughout the family friendly event. Wallace and her friend Gianna Peacock love watching the balloons.
“It’s fun to just go near the balloons and some are allowing you to go in and like put the fire on. And it’s really cool,” said Peacock.
“It’s a free event so it’s really nice that we can all just come here for free and meet up with people and have a good time,” said Gianna’s mother, Gina Peacock.
Gina said it’s one of their families favorite things to do, they’ve been coming for almost 10 years.
“We meet up with all different friends and just people we know from the community,” said Gina.
And 10 year old friends Luna Taisey and Anabelle Kielty agree, running into familiar faces is one of their favorite parts. “It’s just really fun. I like coming here with family and seeing friends that I didn’t know were going to be here,” said Taisey.
“She actually came up behind me and scared me just a little while ago,” said Kielty.
The pair said they come almost every year. And their favorite part? The balloon moonglow. “It’s really fun,” said Kielty.
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(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by PostX News and is published from a syndicated feed.)