PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — The Crown of Maine Balloon Festival will not feature the popular hot air balloons this year, but festival organizers are still planning a weekend of events that they hope the community will enjoy.
Balloon festival co-chair Jordyn Madore announced on Friday that an alternative schedule of events will occur at the Nordic Heritage Center during the final weekend in August.
The festival, hosted by the Central Aroostook Chamber of Commerce, will kick off on Friday, Aug. 28, with a hot dog cookout at 6 p.m. and a screening of “The Wizard of Oz,” as part of the Presque Isle Police Department’s Movies in the Park series, at 7:30 p.m.
On Aug. 29, the festival committee will encourage people to attend the Presque Isle Farmers Market and hope to also incorporate an initiative to support small businesses. Starting at 4 p.m., food vendors will set up at the Nordic Heritage Center and Star City Syndicate will offer a drive-up concert from 6 to 9 p.m.
Social distancing guidelines, including six-foot markers for food vendor lines and designated spaces during the Friday movie, will be in place. People will be encouraged, but not required, to wear face masks or coverings when social distancing is more difficult to avoid.
Madore noted that the array of outdoor space available at the Nordic Heritage Center makes the location ideal for events that encourage social distancing.
“They’re all events where people can come and go throughout the day,” Madore said.
The festival committee plans to collaborate with other community partners to add more events until the festival weekend. The festival’s website and Facebook page will have updated information.
In a summer where the majority of Aroostook’s popular events have been canceled due to COVID-19, Madore expects that many people will take advantage of the chance to have fun outside with family and friends.
“People have been disappointed that there will be no balloons this year, but we’re offering events that people can still attend as a family,” Madore said.
