QUEENSBURY | The Adirondack Balloon Festival, which has delighted three generations of residents and visitors while achieving national acclaim, is returning to Warren County for its 49th edition Thursday, Sept. 22 through Sunday, Sept. 25.

As many as 100 hot-air balloons take up to 275 flights over the festival’s four-day run, and adults, as well as children, enjoy getting close to the unique aircraft as they inflate and take off — a rare aspect of most hot-air balloon festivals.

With the COVID-19 pandemic now in the rearview mirror, the 2022 festival is to feature all its traditional aspects, including food vendors, a craft fair, children’s activities and live music, in addition to spectators and balloonists sharing time with each other.

Annually, children are entranced by more than a dozen specially shaped balloons at the festival — this year’s lineup includes a panda bear, a snowman, a depiction of the Tazmanian Devil and a fanciful bird character, to name a few.

The 2022 festival features a tribute to the late Joan Grishkot, who with her husband Walter were promoters and organizers of the event that has been recognized as one of the premier family-friendly hot-air balloon festivals in the U.S.

Joan and Walter, assisted by community members and balloonists, founded the festival in the early 1970s. Joan’s support and assistance were vital to the balloon festival’s growth and enduring success, festival board of directors president Mark Donohue said Sept. 18. As one of the county's two most popular multi-day events, the balloon festival annually attracts many thousands of spectators.

Donohue said he and Joan were “in synch” with each other about annual balloon festival plans prior to her passing on July 8, 2021.

Donahue gave the eulogy at Joan's funeral, and he quoted from it Sunday in expressing how influential she was in area health care, early childhood education, services to the disabled, as well as enhancing life for area residents through her work with the balloon festival.

“Joanie lived her life with her eyes wide open,” Donahue said. “She learned from others and used that to teach, nurture and share her wisdom. She taught us to be kind to others but also, to ourselves. Our world needed Joanie and needs many more like her.”

The event kicks off Thursday, Sept. 22 at 4 p.m. in Crandall Park in Glens Falls with 10 or more balloons launching at about 5:30 p.m. At 6 p.m. Thursday the action moves to downtown Glen Falls for a block party, car show, music and balloonists' baskets on display. The festival relocates Friday mid-afternoon to Warren County’s Floyd Bennett Memorial Airport with 50 or so balloons taking off between 5 p.m. and 6:15 p.m., then the festival resumes as early as 4:30 a.m. Saturday with morning launches generally occurring either soon after dawn or late afternoon into the evening.

The total number of balloon flights through the weekend could reach 275 or so if weather permits.

Special events on Saturday at the airport include a tribute to Joan Grishkot from 6:30 to 7:30 a.m., an after-dusk Moonglow event in which balloons light up the night with their propane-torch inflation devices, and a concert by Jim Gaudet and the Railroad Boys and other acts from mid-afternoon to early evening.

Between 6:30 a.m. and 7:30 a.m. on both Saturday and Sunday, a mass ascension of up to 75 balloons is scheduled on the airport grounds.

The food vendors, exhibitors, craft fair and children’s activities are open from 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, and 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Sunday.

The balloon launches at the airport are suited for spectators to assist flight crews in inflation and takeoff, and a training session is to be conducted at 9 a.m. Saturday for spectators interested in learning to assist balloon crews.

The balloon festival moves Sunday mid-afternoon from the airport back to Crandall Park, where the festival concludes with food vendors, live music, and the launching of 10 or more balloons.

For a comprehensive schedule, further details and updates, see adirondackballoonfest.org.

No dogs, drones, or remote control aircraft are allowed at either site.

By Thom Randall

The Sun