The Great Falls Balloon Festival is set apart from many of the other great events that dot the summer calendar.

There are similar trappings: food, music and fireworks. But it’s the balloons that are the real draw.

They are, simply put, stunning.

To hear the roar as the balloons inflate and watch as they rise, tentative at first but gracefully gaining momentum as they break free of the ground and climb into the sky, is awe inspiring. It’s easy enough in a world filled with magical technology to lose our sense of wonderment. Seeing the flotilla of balloons awaken and take flight can bring back those feelings from childhood when you knew, just knew, you were witnessing something really cool.

Riding in the balloons isn’t free – in fact, it can be pretty expensive – but everybody can come out to watch the launches and enjoy the rest of the fun.

Breakfast will be served starting at 5 this morning, with the first launch at around 5:30 a.m. A second round of takeoffs is scheduled to begin around 5:30 p.m. and there’s a full schedule of live entertainment. The festival continues all weekend, wrapping up Sunday night.

The balloon festival is great for the Twin Cities, drawing thousands of visitors downtown for the three-day event. Hundreds of volunteers work hard to put the community’s best face forward and make sure there’s a fun, safe environment.

But the festival continues to be a success, now in its 13th year, because of its quality. Summertime in Maine is packed with guests and cookouts and big events. People keep coming to the Great Falls Balloon Festival because the organizers put on a good show. And for the balloons, of course.