Balloon Festival lands the Whale

By Cathy DeDe, Chronicle Managing Editor

Just at the last minute, the Adirondack Balloon Festival added a new special shaped balloon, a giant whale named “Baby Blue.” Weather permitting, it will fly at both launches on Saturday.

Pilot H.G. Steiner of Utah approached Adirondack Festival balloonmeister Bob Dicks just last week at a balloon festival in Pennsylvania.

“It’s a new balloon,” said Adirondack Balloon Festival organizer Mark Donahue.

“He’s only been to three or four events, and he’s heard what a good festival ours is. He really wanted to get established here.”

It’s been a last-minute scramble to arrange the insurance, logistics and other paperwork for the balloon to attend.

Other special shaped balloons this year:

• Snobird
• Humpty Dumpty
• Joelly the baby bee
• Pig-Headed
• Stinky the Skunk
• Betty Jean the Butterfly
• Pandy Bear
• Sunny Boy the sun
• The Purple People Eater, the longtime Adirondack Balloon Festival regular.

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