2011 Great Falls Balloon Festival | Live video, photos and updates

Balloon Festival Launch Schedule

Print a copy of the schedule

All events will be taking place at Simard-Payne Memorial Park in Lewiston, unless noted otherwise. Balloon launches and tethering are weather permitting. Admission is free, although certain activities may require a fee.

Friday, August 19

6 a.m. Balloon Launch

1:30 p.m. “The Lewis Hine Project,” Museum L/A, Canal Street

4 to 10:30 p.m. Carnival 5 to 10 p.m. Craft and Trade Fair

5 p.m. Great Falls Paddling Society canoes and kayaks on the River, Little Andy Park, Second Street, Auburn

5 to 10:30 p.m. Wall climbing-Bungee Jump

6 p.m. Balloon Launch

6 to 8 p.m. Fender Bender

6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Big Blue, Festival Plaza Auburn

7 p.m. Sky Dive New England demonstration"

7:30 to 8:45 p.m. Swinging Bears Square Dance 8 to 10 p.m. Phat Grass, Festival Plaza, Auburn

8:45 to 10:15 p.m. Terry & The Telstars

Saturday, August 20

5 a.m. Great Falls Paddling Society canoes and kayaks on the River, Little Andy Park, Second Street, Auburn

6 a.m. Balloon Launch

10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Craft and Trade Fair

10 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Carnival

10 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Wall climbing-Bungee jump

10 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Museum L/A open for visitors, Canal Street

11 a.m. to noon Parade

12-12:30 p.m. Girl Power Fitness Zumba demonstration

12 to 1:30 p.m. Brian Patricks

1:30 to 2:45 p.m. Brookside Blues Band, Festival Plaza, Auburn

12 p.m. Stir the Sky Color Guard presentation

12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Various balloon tetherings

12:30 to 2 p.m. MaineStream Band

1 p.m. Remote-control balloon demonstration

1:30 p.m. Janet Gibson, author, book signing at Museum L/A, Canal Street

2:30 to 4:30 p.m. The Mallett Brothers Band

3 to 4:30 p.m. Pat Pepin and Her Blue Ribbon Band, Festival Plaza, Auburn

4:30 p.m. Pelletier’s Karate Academy demonstration, Festival Plaza, Auburn

4:45 to 5:15 p.m. Imari & the Sahara Desert Dancers

5 to 6 p.m. Ed Desjardins

5 p.m. Great Falls Paddling Society canoes and kayaks on the River, Little Andy Park, Second Street, Auburn

5:15 to 6:30 p.m. Juke Joint Devils

6 p.m. Balloon launch

6 to 6:30 p.m. Imari & the Sahara Desert Dancers, Festival Plaza, Auburn

6:30 to 7 p.m. Maine Event Cheer & Dance demonstration

6:40 to 7:50 p.m. Sidecar Heroes, Festival Plaza, Auburn

7:15 to 8:15 p.m. The NitPickers

8:30 to 10:30 p.m. The Don Campbell Band

8:30 to 10:30 p.m. The Denny Breau Band, Festival Plaza, Auburn

Sunday, August 21

5 a.m. Great Falls Paddling Society canoes and kayaks on the River, Little Andy Park, Second Street, Auburn

6 a.m. Balloon launch

10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Family Fun Day, various entertainers and activities

10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Farmers’ Market, Lincoln Street

10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wall climbing-Bungee jump

11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Craft and Trade Fair

11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Carnival

11 a.m. to 11:45 p.m. Ted DeMille & Taylor Smith

11.45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. Fairview Community Band

12 p.m. Duck Race sponsored by the Rotary Club, Main Street Canal

12 to 1 p.m. Cribstone Bridge, Festival Plaza, Auburn

12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Various balloon tetherings

12:45 to 1:30 p.m. Camp of Rock

1:15 to 2:15 p.m. Perpetual E-motion, Festival Plaza, Auburn

1:15 p.m. Remote-control balloon demonstration

1:30 p.m. Stir the Sky Color Guard presentation

1:45 to 2:45 p.m. The Veayo Twins

2:15 p.m. Stir the Sky Color Guard presentation, Festival Plaza, Auburn

2:45 to 3:15 p.m. Community Contra Dancing featuring Perpetual E-motion, Festival Plaza, Auburn

3 to 4:30 p.m. The Jason Spooner Trio

3:15 p.m. Planet Cheer cheerleading demonstration, Festival Plaza, Auburn

3:45 p.m. Andy Valley Gymnastics demonstration, Festival Plaza, Auburn

4:15 to 5:15 p.m. Robert Washington, Elvis impersonator, Festival Plaza, Auburn

4:30 p.m. Planet Cheer cheerleading demonstration

5 p.m. Andy Valley Gymnastics demonstration

5 p.m. Great Falls Paddling Society canoes and kayaks on the River, Little Andy Park, Second Street, Auburn

5:30 to 7 p.m. Johnny A.

5:50 to 7:30 p.m. Broad Street Band, Festival Plaza, Auburn

6 p.m. Balloon launch

Mechanical malfunction behind balloon explosion, investigation finds

Fireball at 19th annual Great Falls Balloon Festival caught on film by bystander

LEWISTON — Michael Hallihan of Hampden, Mass. had his cell phone camera in hand when a sudden ball of fire erupted in the basket of one of the hot air balloons lifting off during the Saturday evening launch at the 19th annual Great ... 3

Balloon pilot's son believes dad will fly again despite accident

LEWISTON —  Despite burn injuries resulting from an explosion Saturday night during the Great Falls Balloon Festival, the family of New Hampshire hot air balloon pilot Andre Boucher expect him to recover and return to the skies. While Boucher recovers at a Portland hospital, a j... 1

VIDEO: Early morning risers treated to balloon spetactular

Fireball injures five at Great Falls Balloon Festival

LEWISTON — A sudden ball of fire erupted above a balloon's basket as it neared liftoff at the Great Falls Balloon Festival Saturday night, injuring four passengers and pilot Andre Boucher. Two of the passengers were transported to Central Maine Medical Center and two were taken ... 3

5 injured, 2 taken to hospital in hot air balloon accident

LEWISTON — Five people were injured at the Saturday evening launch of the Great Falls Balloon Festival when a propane line became detached, sprayed propane, and the propane became lit on fire. Three were treated on the field and two were taken to the hospital. The balloon was ... 1

Saturday morning launch a success

Balloons take to the sky over the Simard-Payne Memorial Park Lewiston on Saturday morning as hundreds of festival goes view the annual spectacle.

Rain dampens Great Falls Balloon Festival

LEWISTON — There were no balloons in the sky Friday night but there was plenty of action on the ground. Square-dancing on the Auburn side of the river, a flaming performance art show on the other. Sprinkles, thunder and flashes of lightning were not enough to chase thousands from the... 1

Watch the Great Falls Balloon Festival live on SunJournal.com

LEWISTON — If you find yourself wondering whether the weather is going to hold back a balloon launch at the festival this weekend, you can get the answer without leaving the comfort of your home. The Sun Journal will be live-streami...

Rafts will offer alternate balloon launch views

AUBURN — Adventure Bound Rafting, Maine’s premier outdoor adventure, camping and whitewater rafting company, and the Androscoggin Land Trust, a regional land trust in the Androscoggin River watershed, will offer the opportunity to view the Great Falls Balloon Festival from the Androsc...