The Executive Director of the Greater Centralia Chamber of Commerce Marcus Holland feels the move of Balloon Fest from Foundation to Fairview Park was a success with great weather also being a factor. He says no decision has yet been made on the future location of Balloon Fest.
“It does look promising,” Holland said. “Obviously, we have to talk to our board of directors and have city approval, so we’ll be in discussion about that. The feedback we were getting online is positive. It’s centrally located, it’s easily accessible. There are a lot of positives to having it in this park.”
Holland says if Balloon Fest is held in Fairview Park again, additional parking areas would be sought as space in the shopping center ran out on Saturday night.
Kayla Lambert was this year’s chair of Balloon Fest.
“I think it went really well. Great attendance,” Lambert said. “The weather helps with everything of course, if we could order that every year I definitely would. I think it was a wonderful event. We’re coming off of Sunday here, a lot of activity with kids playing all over the park.”
Chamber of Commerce assistant Jamie Allen is also crediting the nearly 500 who volunteered their time over the weekend.
“The volunteers really run this event,” Allen said. “We have a few hundred volunteers between our crew, our gate volunteers, our volunteer committee, and extras throughout the park to help with trash pickup and all of that. This event would not run without any of those volunteers. We heavily rely on that, and we appreciate anyone who donates their time and their weekend. We know it’s hard work and they show up and give it all they’ve got, and they make sure we have a fantastic event year after year.”
The incoming chair for Balloon Fest 2027 is Cary Day, who is looking forward to next year’s event.
“We’ll start working again in March,” Day said. “That’s usually about the time we get those meetings scheduled and work out what’s going to be happening.”
There are no crowd estimates yet, but Holland says there is some data available such as cell phone usage in the park that will be reviewed.
Emergency services vehicles in Fairview Park for Touch a Truck at Balloon Fest. Photo by Pat Hodges.
Balloons inflating and taking off for the Saturday evening flight. Photo by Austin Williams.
Balloon taking off from Fairview Park for the evening flight on Sunday.
Balloon pilots together for a group photo Saturday evening. Photo by Austin Williams.
A skateboarder performs in the skateboarding competition at Balloon Fest on Sunday. Photo by Pat Hodges.
Cars in Fairview Park for the Balloon Fest car show on Sunday. Photo by Pat Hodges.
