WHO WE ARE
Adirondack Balloon Festival is a not-for-profit organization run strictly by a small group of volunteers. We rely on our local community for support to put on this event. We strongly encourage you to support the businesses who support us or via direct donation to the festival. Even purchasing some great apparel offered at the event helps. At this time, we do not offer online apparel sales, sorry. Please consider supporting the festival through clicking on the donation button below. We also encourage potential volunteers to contact via email at: info@adirondackballoonfest.org
Also, help is greatly needed with our “special shapes” which are announced late in the summer. These shapes are a main draw to the event but also large in size requiring them to need multiple crew help to inflate, etc.
WEATHER
All ballooning activities are weather dependent. Ballooning is a fair weather sport. Balloons will not fly in the rain. Winds must also be light in order for balloons to safely launch. Ideal conditions are for wind speeds to be 3-5 MPH. As wind speeds increase beyond 8-10 it is unlikely balloons will be able to fly. Flight updates are provided on our Facebook site and on the field before for each scheduled launch. Information on launch status will be determined via a pilots briefing shortly before estimated launch times. Flights may be put on a hold to see if weather inproves. A field open for flying announcements means pilots are free to fly. At time, flights will be at a pilot’s discretion based on various information including but not limited to safety. Please be considerate on our Facebook page! We understand the weather can be frustrating but safety always comes first in our decision making. We are all volunteers and we, as well as the pilots, are as disappointed as you are when balloons do not don’t fly. Network conditions on the airport field may be slow depending on the number of attendees at the event so please be patient with social media announcements.
BALLOON RIDES
The Festival does not schedule or book rides. If you refer to the “ Participating Pilots" section of the website, WHEN AVAILABLE (typically late in the summer), You will find details including photographs of our participating pilots and their balloons. Many of our participating pilots will book rides independently while others are sponsored by local businesses. If their phone number and or email are listed, then they are willing to accept passengers. Each pilot sets his or her own price for individual flights so please contact them when tab is added in the summer. We will not broker flights for pilots.
BALLOON FLIGHTS
Balloon flights occur just after sunrise or close to sunset, refer to our schedule of events, when available, for projected times. Balloons do not fly during throughs the day. You should plan on being present at flight times and or try to attend multiple flights if you wish to see the balloons launch.
CAMPING AND LODGING
Unfortunately camping is not allowed at the festival. There are many private and state operated sites nearby that could accommodate you. Self contained Rv’s are always welcome at the festival and can park in the general parking area. The festival will not suggest local lodging options but suggest supporting those who sponsor the event.
PARKING AND ADMISSION
Admission to the event is and always has been free. General parking is plentiful and free as well. VIP parking passes are typically available in late summer to purchase. These passes are designed to help attendees enter and exit easier via their own entrance. Handicapped parking is available in both general parking as well as VIP parking as well. This events draws thousands of people so traffic backups will occur.. Please plan accordingly, especially during peak times of 5am - 9am and 3pm – 8pm. Link to purchase VIP parking passes will be available on HOME page of website closer to the event. Please note, these passes are not sold by the festival and will be purchased through Warren County and we will not be responsible for misplaced passes.
GENERAL RV PARKING
Self contained Rv’s are welcome and we encourage them. CAMPING IS NOT ALLOWED ON THE GROUNDS. The concept of a self-contained RV is quite simple. It means your RV has a bathroom and tank system for holding water. You don't need any outside sources to operate.
CHARTER BUSES
We welcome and encourage Charter and tour bus companies to attend the event. We offer a designated parking area, relatively close to the center of activities. You are welcome to attend for one launch or attend the entire weekend. The link, when available to us from Warren County, will allow you to pre-purchase your bus pass for either a single day or for the weekend. They will encourage prepayment, however busses may be allowed to pay onsite. Charter companies seeking more information about other activities and events in our region are encouraged to visit Warren County's Tourism website at Visitlakegeorge.com. Link to Charter tours will be available via link on HOME page of this website when provided to the festival. Please note that the bus tours are not arranged directly by the festival and are not responsible for any misinformation communicated by other entities.
CRAFT FAIR
The craft vendors are organized and sponsored by the Zonta Club. Please do not contact the festival directly regarding the craft fair. Inquiries must use GFZEMAIL@GMAIL.COM.
FOOD VENDORS
Priority status will given to locally based, not-for-profit organizations to be food vendors at the event. This way the proceeds remain and are reinvested in our local community. Vendors may inquire about participation for future festivals by filling out our online form. When form is released, typically in early spring, it will be available on the home page as well as announced on our Facebook page.. Regarding entertainment such as bands, space is extremely limited. Please send us a message at info@adirondackballoonfest.org for entertainment opportunities. any potential event sponsorships inquiries should be send directly to sponsorships@adirondackballoonfest.org
Food vendors can reach out by emailing: vendors@adirondackballoonfest.org
PETS ARE NOT ALLOWED
We love pets too but they can be frightened by the loud pitch of the balloon burners. In addition, with large crowds they can be a safety hazard. This applies to both Crandall Park and airport launches. Please be kind an courteous to the festival and others by following this request directly from Warren County and the festival itself. Service animals are welcome with proper documentation if asked.
DRONES ARE NOT ALLOWED
Due to safety concerns, any kind of drones are not permitted at any of the launches including Crandall Park as well as Floyd Bennett Memorial Airport. Proper action will be taken by authorities to remedy this issue.
SMOKING IS NOT ALLOWED
Balloons use propane gas to make their flame. As this gas is flammable, smoking could endanger the balloonist and all spectators as well. So we politely ask that you refrain from smoking on the grounds at anytime.
HOW TO DRESS
Consider dressing in layers as well as boots. September is the start of fall and cooler temperatures. Bring a flashlight as well if you plan on coming for the morning launch or the “moonglow” event. A “moonglow” is a stationary display of a select number of balloons at the airport location only and feature a musically, synchronized, inflated balloon show. Balloons do not fly during a “moonglow” event.
MORE GENERAL INFO
Please leave your dogs and other pets at home. No drones are allowed at any time. Feel free to bring blankets, lawn chairs, coolers, etc. Please be courteous to pilots and others by not smoking, stepping on balloons, walking under lines, etc. Please arrive early and please pack your patience, as this is a FREE Event, we do draw very large crowds, traffic will be heavy leading to road closer in some events, shutting down entrances when event property reaches capacity. Plan to attend multiple launches as weather is often a factor. Please consider visiting some of our kind sponsors who support this free event. Sponsors will be added to the website with links as sponsorships come in. Floyd Bennett Memorial Airport address, 443 Queensbury Ave, Queensbury, NY 12804. Crandall Park: 576 Glen Street, Glens Falls, NY 12801.