Balloons Take Flight Over Lewiston-Auburn After Early Weather Setbacks

LEWISTON — The skies above the twin cities came alive with color and cheers Saturday morning as hot air balloons lifted off from Simard-Payne Memorial Park, delivering on a promise that weather had initially threatened to break.

The Lewiston-Auburn Balloon Festival, billed as the signature event of the year for both communities, is now in full swing. After a bumpy start Friday morning when wind conditions grounded the scheduled launch, the festival has rebounded strongly—officials report that launch operations are outpacing last year's pace.

Friday evening brought relief as conditions improved enough to allow two of three planned launches to proceed. Those successes carried into Saturday, when the earliest arrivals to the park were rewarded with a procession of trucks and trailers hauling balloons and their crews beginning at 5:45 a.m.

Seven balloons eventually ascended Saturday morning, drifting over the Androscoggin River and into Auburn under a predominantly gray sky. Spectators—estimated in the hundreds—applauded and cheered as each balloon rose.

Among those taking flight was Talia of Gorham, who has spent her entire life visiting Lewiston to see family but had never before ridden in a balloon. She was among the first passengers to board "The Pretty One," piloted by Timothy Schonman.

"My grandparents live in Lewiston, so I've been coming here my whole life," Talia said. This time, she finally got to soar.

The morning's first launch also carried 14-year-old Cora and Chris, who helped prepare the balloon for departure.

From Chicago, Temetrice Rhea-Haynes made the trip to Maine specifically for a balloon ride—a gift from family members. Before climbing into the basket, she embraced her loved ones and offered a simple but poignant farewell.

"Just in case," she told them, alluding to the inherent risks of flight.

Rhea-Haynes flew with Derald Young of Damn Yankee Balloons, a Dixfield-based company. Young is one of the most experienced pilots in the region, with a career spanning back to 1979. His crew noted that the balloon he flew Saturday was so new to the company it lacks a formal name—team members have taken to calling it "The Pumpkin."

As the basket rose and left the ground, Rhea-Haynes waved broadly to the crowd below and called out the classic phrase: "Up, up and away!" Her shout drew laughter and enthusiastic cheers from watching families.

Meanwhile, volunteers with John F. Murphy Homes served up blueberry pancakes at the festival's pancake feed Saturday morning. The aroma of fresh breakfast wafted across the park as balloons inflated nearby.

Other pilots joining the ascent included Jacob Godfrey, commanding the balloon "Charlie Brown," with crew members Caleb Supernor and Venise Monto holding it steady before launch.

The celebration extended beyond the balloon field. A parade rolled through downtown Lewiston on Saturday, featuring floats, community groups, and the L.L. Bean Boot Mobile making its way along Main Street. Children with candy-dyed blue mouths delighted crowds from flatbed trailers, while young Nautica, 4, waved from the procession on Lincoln Street.

Families gathered across the park throughout the morning. One-year-old Lainey pointed excitedly skyward as balloons climbed, her mother Ashley watching by her side. Three-year-old Ellyana sat atop her father Kaleb's shoulders for a better view. Grandma Linda, mom Chantelle, and 4-year-old Jaylen found a spot to take in the spectacle. Six-year-old Declan Chan of Auburn, meanwhile, put an inflatable balloon toy to creative use, wielding it like a punching bag.

The festival continues through Sunday, with additional launches scheduled pending weather conditions.