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By Cathy DeDe, Chronicle Managing Editor

Up to 80 balloons including nine special shapes are expected at the 51st Adirondack Hot Air Balloon Festival, Thursday to Sunday, Sept. 19 to 22.

Thursday at Crandall Park

Again this year, all Thursday activities take place at locals-friendly Crandall Park. No downtown festival or car show.
Plans include the first launch of 20-plus balloons, possibly some special shapes, opening ceremonies, food vendors and …

Chronicle Managing Editor Cathy DeDe advises:

• My Number One suggestion: Get to the airport for a morning launch. Yes, it’s painfully early. The cars line up by 4:30 a.m., well before the gates open, but there’s nothing like the excitement of 100 hot air balloons rising with the sun while bleary-eyed thousands cheer them on. Sunday morning is “Walter’s Mass Ascension,” when all the balloons attempt to go up …

The Balloon Festival does not schedule or book balloon rides. Book directly with the pilots, festival organizer Mark Donahue says. See the Website’s “Balloons” page to find contact information for those pilots offering paid rides.

Mr. Donahue said fewer balloonists are offering rides this year, for several reasons including changing FAA regulations. He also suggests “walking the field” during the festival to find pilots who are taking paid passengers.

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The 14th annual Zonta Fall Craft Show at the Adirondack Balloon Festival takes place on the tarmac at Warren County’s Floyd Bennett Memorial Airport, Friday to Sunday, Sept. 20-22. It’s open all hours that gates are open.

Vendors offer balloon-themed items, clothing, gifts, food products and more. It’s rain or shine — and the craft show goes on whether balloons fly or not.

“We start at 4:30 a.m. when the …

Adirondack Balloon Festival organizer Mark Donahue expects the balloon count to be “down” from last year, when nearly 100 came for the 50th festival.

“But people don’t realize that the normal event is already a magnitude that’s unbelievable as it is,” he adds.

It’s one of the three largest in the Country, “and the only one with free admission and an all-volunteer committee.”

Mr. Donahue urges, “Wear boots. Pack your …