Persistence was the word of the day at Foundation Park for day two of the 35th annual Centralia Balloon Fest. The weather was as beautiful as anyone could hope for, but due to fluctuating wind speeds it was uncertain at times when and whether the balloons would be able to go up. Technical issues also gave event staff some trouble, but those issues didn’t stop a night of entertainment. The main event, the all-balloon glow, was able to start close to 8 PM after a delay, and a crowd of thousands got to see over thirty balloons light up the park.
The winds unfortunately prevented the scheduled POW/MIA Veterans Freedom Flight from taking place, but Balloon Fest still took time to honor the military by hosting the swearing in of several new members of the armed forces on the main stage. At the same time, the American flag was displayed near Catfish Pond.
Attendance was high for Saturday’s proceedings. At one point in the evening, it was announced that over 15,000 people had made their way into Foundation Park. That number started building early, with a sizable crowd already forming shortly after the park opened at 3 PM. Early arrivals got to see Saturday’s opening entertainment, country artist Kaylee Rose. Rose got off to a delayed start, was able to complete her full set for an appreciative afternoon audience.
The headlining entertainment for the evening was Josh Gracin, who took the main stage around 9 PM following the conclusion of the balloon glow. Gracin’s performance got off to a rocky start with sound glitches during the opening song, leading him to take the unusual step of walking out among the audience in front of the stage while singing his next song to check his sound. Gracin worked with the audio crew and assured the audience that he was determined to give them a good show.
“Again, thank you all for bringing us here tonight,” Gracin said to a supportive crowd. “We’re going to make sure we give you a good show either way. It feels good to be back out here. We’re going to play some old stuff, some new stuff, some stuff in between, and also put in a bit of a guilty pleasure setlist… again, thank you all so much for coming out.”
Balloon Fest concludes on Sunday with Family Fun Day. Events run from 12 to 6 PM and entrance to the park is free. There will be a variety of events and activities tailored to kids as well as a car and motorcycle cruise-in. The full schedule can be found at centraliachamber.com/balloon-fest.
Balloons glowing simultaneously. Photo by Austin Williams.
Spectators around Catfish Pond ready to see the Balloon Glow. Photo by Austin Williams.
Kaylee Rose performing. Photo by Austin Williams.
Josh Gracin performing. Photo by Austin Williams.
