The sky has been putting on quite a show for us recently between two meteor showers zipping through the sky and the Northern Lights glowing, and though this next event isn’t celestial, you’re still going to want to look up.
The Adirondack Balloon Festival is making its return to New York this September for its 51st year with endless colorful hot air balloons taking to the sky, and you definitely won’t want to miss it.
The festival came about in the early 1970s as a way to bring visitors to the area after Labor Day.
Not many hot air balloons existed in the nation, but balloonist John Marsden from Manchester, Vermont shared photos of his balloon to a few Glens Falls residents and the rest is history.
The festival was first held at Adirondack Community College (now SUNY Adirondack) though, after outgrowing the site, it moved to the Floyd Bennett Memorial Airport in Queensbury, New York where it’s still held today.
Today, 100,000 people gather over 4 days to what’s been named one of the Top 100 events in North America to be dazzled by balloonists from across the United States as well as internationally based pilots.
Balloon flights occur just after sunrise and close to sunset (they do not fly throughout the day). Beyond the balloons, visitors can also browse through their craft fair and enjoy food vendors.
This year the Adirondack Balloon Festival will return for its its 51st year Thursday, September 19th through Sunday, September 22nd. It is open to the public and free of charge.
More information can be found on their website here.
📍 Floyd Bennett Memorial Airport – 443 Queensbury Ave, Queensbury, NY
🗓️ Thursday, September 19 through Sunday, September 22
🚗 ~3.5 hours driving