Hot air balloons prepare to lift off from Simard Payne Park in Lewiston during the Saturday morning launch. The popular three-day festival has been on hold for two years. Andree Kehn/Sun Journal

Hot air balloons lift off from Simard Payne Park in Lewiston during the Saturday morning launch. The popular three-day festival has been on hold for two years. Andree Kehn/Sun Journal

Jim Rodrigue’s balloon, left, takes off Saturday morning before the other balloons in the Great Falls Balloon Festival in Lewiston. Rodrigue is a Lewiston resident. Andree Kehn/Sun Journal

Volunteers, crew, and onlookers mingle Saturday among the inflating hot air balloons at Simard Payne Park during the Saturday launch of the Great Falls Balloon Festival. Andree Kehn/Sun Journal

Hot air balloons lift off from Simard Payne Park in Lewiston during the Saturday morning launch. The popular three-day festival has been on hold for two years. Andree Kehn/Sun Journal

Tony Richard, left, holds open a hot air balloon Saturday at the Great Falls Balloon Festival for the initial inflation by a fan. The annual festival is held at Simard Payne Park in Lewiston. Andree Kehn/Sun Journal

A hot air balloon drifts over Simard Payne Park in Lewiston during the Saturday morning launch. The popular three-day festival has been on hold for two years. Andree Kehn/Sun Journal

Jim Rodrigue’s balloon performs a water dip Saturday morning in the Androscoggin River at the Great Falls Balloon Festival in Lewiston. A water dip is a popular hot air balloon trick where the basket dips into the water and then takes off again. Andree Kehn/Sun Journal

Sabrina MacDonald holds open the Sunrise Passion balloon Saturday at the Great Falls Balloon Festival. The hot air balloons are initially inflated with giant fans before propane flame burners are used. The annual festival is held at Simard Payne Park in Lewiston. Andree Kehn/Sun Journal

Tracy Lehman looks back at Kagen Babcock on Saturday at the Great Falls Balloon Festival as they do a circuit around the Tailwinds balloon to make sure it is inflating correctly. The annual festival is held at Simard Payne Park in Lewiston. Andree Kehn/Sun Journal

Pilot Penny Christie fires the burner Saturday in her balloon Sky Petals during the Great Falls Balloon Festival in Lewiston. Andree Kehn/Sun Journal

Pilot Penny Christie, center, prepares for her flight Saturday in her balloon Sky Petals as volunteers Penny Gary, left, and Katie Stowe provide a bit of ballast during the Great Falls Balloon Festival in Lewiston. Andree Kehn/Sun Journal

Crew members straighten out the top of the Sky Petals balloon Saturday at the Great Falls Balloon Festival in Lewiston. Andree Kehn/Sun Journal

A hot air balloons drifts Saturday over Auburn as spectators watch from the banks of the Androscoggin River. Andree Kehn/Sun Journal

The Sunrise Passion hot air balloon drifts over the Androscoggin River as spectators watch from Simard Payne Park in Lewiston during the Saturday morning launch. The popular three-day festival has been on hold for two years. Andree Kehn/Sun Journal

The Sunrise Passion hot air balloon drifts over the Androscoggin River as spectators watch from Simard Payne Park in Lewiston during the Saturday morning launch. The popular three-day festival has been on hold for two years. Andree Kehn/Sun Journal

Tico the Sloth, right, is a specialty balloon making its first appearance at the Great Falls Balloon Festival at the Saturday morning launch from Simard Payne Park in Lewiston. Andree Kehn/Sun Journal

Tico the Sloth, right, is a specialty balloon making its first appearance at the Great Falls Balloon Festival at the Saturday morning launch from Simard Payne Park in Lewiston. Andree Kehn/Sun Journal

Tico the Sloth, right, is a specialty balloon making its first appearance at the Great Falls Balloon Festival at the Saturday morning launch from Simard Payne Park in Lewiston. Andree Kehn/Sun Journal

The Sunrise Passion hot air balloon flies over Simard Payne Park in Lewiston during the Saturday morning launch. The popular three-day festival has been on hold for two years. Andree Kehn/Sun Journal

Hot air balloons lift off from Simard Payne Park in Lewiston during the Saturday morning launch. The popular three-day festival has been on hold for two years. Tico The Sloth is a specialty balloon making its first appearance at the festival. Andree Kehn/Sun Journal

Hot air balloons prepare to lift off from Simard Payne Park in Lewiston during the Saturday morning launch. The popular three-day festival has been on hold for two years. Andree Kehn/Sun Journal

Anita Stevens, in pink, prepares for her first hot air ballon ride Saturday at the Great Falls Balloon Fesitival in Lewiston. Andree Kehn/Sun Journal