Despite showers that halted some balloon activity, the 2024 Crown of Maine Balloon Fest saw a packed venue and four spectacular launches under fair skies and calm winds.
The slate was full with 16 balloons from as far away as England and Florida.
The festival typically draws thousands of spectators from Maine and beyond, along with balloon crews and volunteers. From its small start 20 years ago, the event has blossomed into a four-day attraction with continuous activities at the Northern Maine Fairgrounds. Organizers said this year was the biggest yet.
“We are about 15 to 20 people who put together a four-day, all-day festival that brings tens of thousands of people to this community,” said Jordyn Madore, chair of the organizing committee, during opening ceremonies Thursday. “We’ve got 14 food trucks; that’s more than we’ve ever had before. We have about 100 vendors, which is double the amount we’ve ever had before, so our festival is growing.”
While many grand openings celebrate with a ribbon cutting, the balloon festival opens with, appropriately, a ribbon burning using one of the balloonists’ propane burners.
Organizers, sponsors, pilots and crew members gathered on the field, as 2023 Pilot of the Year Mark Fritze of Tallahassee, Florida, had the honor of severing the ribbon. With a rolling burst of orange flame from his burner, the ribbon was incinerated and the festival began.
Pilot Bruce Byberg of Whitehouse Station, New Jersey, who flew the Big Max balloon, said he’s never been to a festival with an opening ceremony.
“None of the other events I go to have anything similar to this,” he said. “I’m impressed with how organized everything is.”
Joe Hamilton and his wife, Beth, of Hobe Sound, Florida, fly a balloon called Last One. They’ve been to Presque Isle four times and keep coming back because the people are so friendly.
“It’s unlike any other community,” Joe Hamilton said. “I mean, the landowners are great, the landing is great — everything about it is fantastic.”
Pilots Anthony Seeger of Travelers Rest, South Carolina, and Patrick Grogan of Cleveland, North Carolina, travel to many of the same festivals. Seeger’s balloon is Carolina Twist, while Grogan flies Neon Dreamz.
While the Crown of Maine Balloon Fest is among the smallest festivals they see, it has more community involvement, Seeger said. He came to Presque Isle last year for the first time and was amazed by the landscape, which he had only seen in pictures, he said.
Grogan learned the same volunteers who have helped him in the past would be with him again this year.
“The fun part about it is our local crew,” he said. “The same crew that I had, they’re all coming back, so you get to rekindle friendships.”
Balloonist Derik Smith of Presque Isle, who did not fly at the festival, served as balloon meister, Madore said. Seth Bailey of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, pilot of Czech Mate, served as alternate.
Prior to launches, the balloon meisters released a pibal, or pilot balloon, to measure wind speed and direction to determine if launching was safe. Pilots then conferred and made the final decision.
Launches took place Friday morning and evening and Saturday morning, with the popular balloon glow taking place Friday after dark.
