https://www.sunjournal.com/2020/08/22/lets-do-launch-virtual-balloon-festival-to-go-up-at-6-a-m-2

Lewiston-Auburn

Watch hot air balloons take from Lewiston in a ‘virtual’ festival launch

There's no balloon festival this year but a couple balloon pilots take off Saturday morning.

Posted August 22, 2020

Updated August 24, 2020

1 min read

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Jim Rodgrigue test fires his hot air balloon burner at Simard-Payne Memorial Park in Lewiston on Saturday morning for a secret balloon launch. The annual balloon festival was canceled this year due to concerns about coronavirus. Caden Babcock, 5, and Tim Leeman watch on. Andree Kehn/Sun Journal

Saturday morning, two Maine balloon pilots and their balloons in a launched from Simard-Payne Park in Lewiston. One balloon was piloted by Jim Rodrique of Androscoggin Balloon Adventures in Lewiston and the other piloted by Derald Young of Damn Yankee Balloons in Dixfield.

It’s our tribute to the Great Falls Balloon Festival, which had to cancel it’s 2020 festival because of the pandemic.

Special thanks to Androscoggin Balloon Adventures in Lewiston (207-783-4574) and Damn Yankee Balloons in Dixfield (207-562-7562).