A line of early-morning severe thunderstorms and some trailing lighter rain caused the Saturday morning Balloon Fest balloon flight over Centralia to be canceled.
The cancellation came after a successful first night of the event at Fairview Park, following a move from the event’s traditional home at Foundation Park.
The Centralia High School Band and Choir performed the opening ceremony at 3:30 on the SSM Health Main Stage. The Friday crowd started small and grew larger as the day went on. For the evening balloon flight, pilots were advised to take off at their discretion because of low winds. Several pilots took off, both from within Fairview Park and from positions south of the shopping center, allowing visitors to watch balloons rise and pass over the park.
The Friday night balloon glow started at 7:30 and featured balloons set up in open areas throughout the park. Balloons that did not participate in Friday night’s glow will be able to participate on Saturday. Due to space limitations, there will not be an all-balloon glow at this year’s Balloon Fest.
Friday night’s headlining entertainment was The Boy Band Night, a tribute group performing the greatest hits of boy bands such as the Backstreet Boys, NYNC, and One Direction.
Balloon Fest continues on Saturday with a similar event schedule, but a larger crowd is expected. Park hours are from 3:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., with opening entertainment Leight July at 3:30 and headlining entertainment Stir of Echoes at 8:30.
Parking and admission to this year’s Balloon Fest are free. Visitors can park in the Fairview Park Plaza across the street. A section of West Broadway between the plaza and the park is blocked to through traffic during the event to allow easy, safe crossing.
The first balloon liftoff from Fairview Park on Friday afternoon. Photo by Austin Williams.
Balloons light up Fairview Park in Friday night glow. Photo by Austin Williams.
