Balloon Fest officially opens at three Friday afternoon.
There will be over 100 food and craft vendors.
The Centralia High School Marching Showcase and Flag Corps will lead the opening ceremony.
The Main Event involving the Balloons begins at 4:30. The first race from Foundation Park is expected from 5:30 to 6 pm. The Balloons will then return to the park for the first of two scheduled glows around 7:30 Friday night.
There will also be two stages of entertainment in the park.
Admission to Balloon Fest for all Friday and Saturday activities is via a $5 wristband. They will be available at the event gates for cash only.
The Saturday morning balloon flight will be over Centralia, with Foundation Park reopening for a day of activities leading up to a Balloon Race around 5:30 Saturday night and the second glow around 7:30 pm.
Sunday is Family Fun Day with free activities from ten to four. There will be no optional Sunday night Balloon Race this year.
Parking includes $5 at the North Entrance off Gragg Street Road. There will be a free in-park golf cart shuttle service during park hours and an SCT Shuttle service on Friday and Saturday from 4 to 6 pm and 8 to 9 pm on both Friday and Saturday. Additional parking and SCT shuttle to Foundation Park from City Hope Church at 1000 East Second. The cost will be $1 per person from four to nine pm. Other parking may be available from surrounding neighborhoods and businesses. You are asked to pay attention to post ‘no parking signs.
Andrew Robinson airs up the Fire & Ice balloon. Andrew is originally from Carlyle but now lives in Peoria. Photo by Pat Hodges.
Hopping a train. One of the balloon flys over a train in the Friday morning flight.
