Northern Maine's love affair with hot air balloons basically started on a hot August day in 1978, when three brave Americans took off on an adventure from Presque Isle, Maine to France.

Their flight was successful as Ben Abruzzo, Maxie Anderson, and Larry Newman was the first crew to successfully cross the Atlantic as no one person or persons had ever accomplished that before in a hot air balloon.

Northern Maine is getting ready to celebrate the 15th Annual Crown of Maine Balloon Fest on August 23 - 26, 2018. And it's going to be great.

At Northern Maine Fairgrounds there will be entertainment for all ages, a chance to get close to a balloon basket and talk with pilots, music, food for purchase as well as area arts and crafts vendors. Special celebrations of area ballooning history are planned also.

Some of the fun you can expect at this event are:

  • Street fair on Main Street, organized by Presque Isle Elks Lodge
  • Breakfast at Chapman Ridge Runners Snowmobile Club in neighboring Chapman
  • Celebrations at Double Eagle ll and a visit with Joseph Kittinger
  • The pilot of Rosie O’Grady
  • A Whole Lot More!

Flights are scheduled for Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings at 5:30 pm, Saturday and Sunday mornings at 5:30am. 

Flights are $200 per person. Flights may be pre-paid through the Crown of Maine Balloon Fest website, crownofmaineballoonfest.org,  prior to August 19.

Book a flight by calling the Central Aroostook Chamber of Commerce at 207-764-6561.

 

 

 

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