By Scott Mitchell Johnson
Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — With ominous rain clouds having filled the skies for much of the summer, organizers of the eighth annual Crown of Maine Balloon Fest are hoping to change that by adding such colors as red, blue, orange, yellow, purple and more.Presented by Time Wise Management Systems, in conjunction with Northern Maine Development Commission, and hosted by the Mapleton Lions Club, Balloon Fest will be held Thursday, Aug. 25 and continue through Sunday, Aug. 28 at the Northern Maine Fairgrounds in Presque Isle.
“The biggest change — or expansion — this year is that the committee has been working toward making the Balloon Fest more of a festival; it’s part of the growth plan for the annual event,” said Calvin Hall, Balloon Fest chair. “This year, with the massive help of Pat Patterson, we’ve added vendors, crafters, food, music and entertainment.
“The purpose in that is to have other events going on so people can come and hopefully — weather pending — see a balloon launch, but also be able to hang out. There will be other events for them to come to,” he said. “In the past, there have been some events that have been scattered around Presque Isle, but this way, we’re bringing just about everything to one location and that’s our first attempt at a major expansion of the event and we hope to build on that every year.”
Twelve pilots are scheduled to attend this year’s festival, with the possibility of one more.
“You never know until the last minute when they actually arrive,” said Hall, “but there are 12 committed and possibly a 13th. When we first started out, the numbers of participants was much smaller, but the past three years we’ve been at about 12 balloons. The space at the Fairgrounds right now is still adequate; there’s actually room for a few more, but as we grow the festival, we may have to have other locations to launch from.”
Hall said it’s been nice to see several service clubs step up and help expand the festival.
“The involvement of the local service clubs is fantastic. The Presque Isle Kiwanis Club, Presque Isle Rotary Club, Mapleton Lions Club, Presque Isle Elks Lodge 1954, and Order of the Eastern Star Lunar Chapter are all involved in various facets of the festival,” said Hall. “That support is invaluable. This truly is an event put on by the community for the community. We all strive to bring people to Presque Isle.
“We’re trying to make the festival a major destination for people in the summer to come to Presque Isle, see central Aroostook, shop here and it’s worth all of the effort to get people to come here,” he said.
Hall, who himself has ridden in a hot air balloon a few times, said people have a fascination with balloons.
“Ballooning is becoming a major spectator event around the country. It’s good fun, it’s a great experience for people, and it’s more than just ‘Oh, let’s watch the balloons.’ There’s opportunities for people to actually fly with the pilots, to learn what is involved in ballooning, and I encourage people to come just for the excitement,” he said. “Kids love balloons. There are different colors and shapes and it’s going to be a good time.
“I was one of those who said, ‘You’ll never get me in a balloon,’ but when the opportunity came, I jumped right in,” said Hall. “It was a wonderful experience and not what people might think. You literally float and are able to see for miles with a 360-degree view and it’s just wonderful.”
Launches will be held Thursday at 5:30 p.m. with available pilots, as well as Friday and Saturday at both 5:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., and 5:30 a.m. Sunday. There will also be balloon glows on Friday and Saturday nights.
For a balloon glow, the pilots set up their balloons at dusk and use the burners to illuminate the envelope so it glows.
The field will be “fenced off” to spectators giving the balloons and crews the space they need to prepare for the flights.
Some pilots will take paying passengers during their flights. Those wishing to make arrangements for a flight should contact the Central Aroostook Chamber at 764-6561.
The schedule of events for the Crown of Maine Balloon Fest is as follows:
Thursday, Aug. 25
4-10 p.m. Main Street Mania, downtown Main Street. Presented by the Presque Isle Elks Lodge 1954. Food, entertainment, bouncy house, demonstrations, etc.
5-9 p.m. G-Force Laser Tag – Cost to be announced.
5:30 p.m. Mass Ascension (balloon launch).
Friday, Aug. 26
5:30 a.m. Mass Ascen-sion (balloon launch).
4-9 p.m. Craft Fair and vendors open.
4-9 p.m. G-Force Laser Tag – Cost to be announced.
5:30 p.m. Ribbon-Burning Ceremony/Mass Ascension (balloon launch).
6:30 p.m. Aether Arts presented by the Aroostook Hospitality Inn.
Dusk Balloon Glow.
Saturday, Aug. 27
5:30 a.m. Mass Ascension (balloon launch).
7-10 a.m. Pilot and Crew Breakfast at the Masonic Hall, 230 State St., Presque Isle. Public welcome. Cost to be announced. Hosted by Order of Eastern Star.
8 a.m. City Wide Yard Sale.
8:30-9:30 a.m. Paint Presque Isle sponsored by the Aroostook Partners in the Arts. Registration at the Northeastland Hotel.
11 a.m.-9 p.m. Craft Fair and vendors open.
11a.m.-9 p.m. G-Force Laser Tag – Cost to be announced.
11 a.m.-2 p.m. Kiwanis/Keybank Youth Day — Supported by Presque Isle Rotary, The Forum.
11 a.m.-2 p.m. Kids Inflatable Fun Events – Sponsored by Pines Health Services & Cary Medical Center, The Forum.
11 a.m.-2 p.m. Bike Rodeo – Sponsored by TAMC, The Forum
2:30-5:30 p.m. Taco Bell Music Festival — Tentative schedule: Dan Rooney, Common Crossing and Aroostook Bluegrass.
5:30 p.m. Mass Ascension (balloon launch).
6:30 p.m. Aether Arts presented by the Aroostook Hospitality Inn.
6 p.m. Paint Presque Isle (Aroostook Partners in the Arts) Preview reception. Ticketed event, Northeastland Hotel.
7 p.m. Paint Presque Isle (Aroostook Partners in the Arts) Auction, Northeastland Hotel.
Dusk Balloon Glow.
Sunday, Aug. 28
5:30 a.m. Mass Ascension (balloon launch).
10:30 a.m. Taco Bell Music Festival. Tentative schedule: Randy Michaud, Mark Shaw and Bosom Buddies.
10:30 a.m. Craft Fair and vendors open.
10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. G-Force Laser Tag – Cost to be announced.
