LEWISTON — Carnival rides waited silent and ready at Simard-Payne Memorial Park on Thursday, A day before the official launch of the Great Falls Balloon Festival.

Vendor tents flapped in the breeze at the edge of a bright green field. There were one or two people poking around, but mostly the park was vacant and still.

As always, the weather remained the great unknown — while Thursday was sunny and just the right amount of warm, the next few days may not be so awesome.

Weather forecasters say rain is likely both Friday and Saturday with the chance of thunderstorms making things even more iffy for balloons. Partly cloudy skies and occasional rain is forecast into next week.

As is usually the case, the weather mostly impacts balloon launches. The rest of the festival events are expected to go on as scheduled and, rain or shine, there will be music. Lots of music.

This year’s theme, Rock Around the Park, will bring Elvis Presley to Lewiston in the form of an impersonator and a balloon.

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One of the headline events, a PAL Hop reunion concert at 8 p.m. Saturday, will celebrate a time when Lewiston-Auburn was considered a hub of rock ‘n’ roll. A pair of bands that used to rock the Twin Cities, The Travelers and the Rockin’ Recons, will take the stage Saturday night.

The festival lineup also includes belly dancing, a dog stunt show, local singers and an open mic night Friday.

Balloons will launch at about 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. all three days, depending on the weather.

For more information, see www.greatfallsballoonfestival.org, or Facebook.

Tim Currier puts up two flags Thursday at the Dairy Whip Soft Serve buggy while helping get Simard-Payne Memorial Park ready for the Great Falls Balloon Festival in Lewiston. The three-day festival begins Friday morning. Currier has been traveling along the East Coast working the fair circuit for 30 years. (Daryn Slover/Sun Journal)

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Zac Cailler hauls bags of onions while helping get Simard-Payne Memorial Park ready for the Great Falls Balloon Festival in Lewiston on Thursday. The onions will be used to make blooming onions and onion rings at the booth of New England Showmans, a nonprofit organization that offers college scholarships to children of fair workers. (Daryn Slover/Sun Journal)


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