Thursday, December 26, 2024

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Cathy’s handy tips to enjoy the Balloon Festival

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 …

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Balloon Festival: About getting a ride

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.

Copyright …

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14th Zonta Fall Craft Show at Balloon Fest

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 …

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Balloon Fest chief’s advice

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 …

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