Great Falls Balloon Festival Maine 2012

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Great Falls Balloon Festival Maine 2012

One of the prettiest summer sights in New England is that of the nearly 30 to 40 hot air balloons that take to the skies annually along the banks of the picturesque Androscoggin River, during the Great Falls Balloon Festival in Maine.

When is the 2012 festival? The festival will take place Friday, August 17th to Sunday, August 19th, 2012.

Where is the festival located? At Railroad Park and Riverwalk, in Lewiston, Maine (Maine's second largest city).

Lewiston is located at the falls of the Androscoggin River, across from Auburn, Maine. The two towns are often referred to as one entity, Lewiston-Auburn, or abbreviated as L-A, L/A, or L/A East (as known locally). For this reason...

...you may hear the Great Falls Balloon Festival called the Lewiston Balloon Festival, the Auburn Balloon Festival, the Lewiston-Auburn Balloon Fest, or a number of other derivations, but they all refer to same great hot air balloon event!

When is the festival in 2013, 2014? Since the Annual Great Falls Hot Air Balloon Festival is held on the third weekend of August...

...the 2013 Balloon fest will should take place from Friday, August 16th to Sunday, August 18th, and the 2014 Balloon Festival will run from Friday, August 15th to Sunday, August 17th.

Hot Air Balloon in Flight Why go to the festival? For starters, at 6:00 AM each morning, and again at 6:00 PM in the evening, (Maine weather permitting), a colorful array of balloons in varying sizes and shapes drift above the beautiful falls of the Androscoggin River.

And YOU, can either watch as a spectator, or arrange ahead of time to take a hot air balloon ride yourself.

However, there is much more to this Maine balloon festival than hot air balloons.

Nearly 100,000 people visit the Lewiston event annually to enjoy live music, arts and crafts, 30-plus food booths, children's entertainment, a carnival, a parade...

...and for the early riser morning breakfast that coincides with the day's first balloon launches. Various contests and demonstrations complete the full schedule of events for the Great Falls Balloon Festival.

How do you get there? The Lewiston-Auburn Maine area is located in the south-central part of the state and is an easy drive from many locales. It is less than 150 miles from Boston, Massachusetts to Lewiston, and 34 miles from Portland, Maine to Lewiston.

From Boston: Approximately 138 miles. Take I-95 into Maine. Follow the Maine Turnpike (I-95) North. Take Exit 75 toward Auburn. At the exit turn left onto Washington Street (this becomes Minot Avenue). At the intersection of Court Street turn right. Cross the bridge into Lewiston. Take first right onto Lincoln Street. There will be parking along the left side of Lincoln Street and Railroad Park is one block to your right.
From Portland: Approximately 35 miles. Take I-295 North to the Maine Turnpike (I-95) North. Take Exit 75 toward Auburn. At the intersection of Court Street turn right. Cross the bridge into Lewiston. Take first right onto Lincoln Street. There will be parking along the left side of Lincoln Street and Railroad Park is one block to your right.

From Points North: Take the Maine Turnpike (I-95) South to Exit 80 toward Lewiston. At the exit turn left and follow signs for Lewiston onto Lisbon Street. Continue on Lisbon Street through downtown. At the intersection of Main and Lisbon Street turn left. At the next light, turn left onto Lincoln Street. There will be parking along the left side of Lincoln Street and Railroad Park is one block to your right.

Where is balloon festival parking? In Lewiston, parking for the balloon festival will be available around Bates Mill and along Lincoln Street. Non-profit organizations will be accepting parking donations.

If you park in Auburn for the balloon festival, you can take advantage of the free shuttle bus to Railroad Park that the city of Auburn is providing. Shuttle pick up locations and shuttle hours are listed at www.greatfallsballoonfestival.org.

How to purchase Maine hot air balloon ride tickets...

Yes, there are balloon rides at the Great Falls Balloon Festival! Balloons of varying sizes - from 2 passenger balloons to 10 passenger balloons - offer rides on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, weather permitting.

Friday rides are available in the evening only, but on Saturday and Sunday balloon rides launch in the morning AND evening, typically at 6:00 AM and 6:00 PM - when the winds are most favorable.

Please visit www.greatfallsballoonfestival.org for complete details about buying tickets. Festival organizers advise you to book your flight early!

How to volunteer for the Great Falls Balloon Festival... Being a balloon festival volunteer, whether you are a local, or from away, is a great way to meet people while supporting the local community. Information on volunteering is available on the Great Falls Balloon Festival website, www.greatfallsballoonfestival.org.

Contact information for the Great Falls Balloon Festival in Maine is...

The Great Falls Balloon Festival
392 College St.
Lewiston, ME 04240
207-782-2637

Lewiston-Auburn Maine Hotels, Motels, Inns, B&B's

With the city of Lewiston, Maine and its Twin City, Auburn, Maine, sitting on opposing banks of the Androscoggin River, there are a number of places to stay for the Great Falls Balloon Festival.

Hot Air Balloon The list of Lewiston Maine hotels and motels has some familiar names...