The second Saratoga Balloon and Craft
Festival is scheduled for June 19-21 at the
Saratoga Fairgrounds in Ballston Spa.
It is organized by Craftproducers of
Charlotte, Vt., which moved the festival to
Saratoga last year because it outgrew its
former location at the Shelburne Museum
in Vermont. Balloonmeister Todd Monahan
of Glens Falls is enthusiastic about the new
location.
Besides the launching of hot air balloons
in the early morning and evenings, there
will be a Balloon Glow event on Friday and
Saturday evenings at dusk on June 19 and
20. At the event, the balloons will be inflated
and the propane burners create a colorful
illumination.
They also said balloon events are weather
permitting, and people can get updates that
weekend on the event’s Facebook page.
The festival will open to the public from
noon on Friday. The first actual launch will
be early Friday evening. There will be 125
artists, artisans, and specialty food makers,
from hand-thrown pottery to fine silver and
gold jewelry to contemporary furniture will
display and sell original works.
The balloons will take off early in the
morning all Saturday and Sunday, starting
around 5:30 a.m. They will go up early
evening on Saturday as well.
Organizers say they have added more
food vendors. Their menu includes fresh
cut French fries, sausage sandwich, Middle
Eastern food, steak sandwiches, chicken
wraps, Ben and Jerry’s ice cream, hot dogs,
meat ball sub, sliders, coffee, espresso,
wood oven pizza, funnel cakes and fried
dough, Greek salad, chili, smoothies, hamburgers,
and more.
Attendees can also book flights on some
of the balloons.
There will be a Kids Zone for the children
with a “make and take” craft section, face
painting, a walk-about-balloon, comic juggling,
and more. For the adults, there will
be music on a main stage.
There will be an array of craft beers
served along with New York state cheeses.
Festival hours are Friday, noon to 10 p.m.;
Saturday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and Sunday, 11
a.m. to 4 p.m.
Adult admission is $10 daily or $15 for the
weekend. Children 3-15 is $5 daily and $5
for the weekend. Under 3, children are free.
For more information and to purchase
tickets visit rides@balloonandcraft.com or
call 798-0858.
Photo Courtesy Saratoga Food and Craft Festival