An Elvis impersonator performs as hot air balloon pilots fire up the burners at Simard-Payne Memorial Park during the 26th annual Great Falls Balloon Festival on Saturday evening. Balloons were not launched morning or evening because of the weather.
Balloons fly along the Androscoggin River in Lewiston on Friday morning during the first launch of the Great Falls Balloon Festival. (Andree Kehn/Sun Journal)
Terri Powell of Lewiston dances to the Jimi Hendrix tune "Hey Joe" during the 26th annual Great Falls Balloon Festival on Saturday evening. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal
A balloon floats past the former St. Louis Church in New Auburn on Friday.
The car ride home from the Great Falls Balloon Festival was a bit more crowded for sisters Aliza Webb, left, Jade Webb and Iris Webb of New Gloucester on Saturday. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal
Balloons were inflated at 6 a.m. Friday, starting from Simard-Payne Memorial Park, on the first day of the Great Falls Balloon Festival in Lewiston.
The rain boots of Great Falls Balloon Festival board member Jenn Clark tell the story. The Saturday morning launch was canceled because of rain. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal
Joel Jones fires up his balloon on Friday morning in Simard-Payne Memorial Park.
Joel Jones, front, and his crew pack up the balloon on Merton Boulevard at the end of the Friday morning balloon flight. (Andree Kehn/Sun Journal)
A balloon performs a splash and dash in the Androscoggin River on Friday morning, where the pilot dips the basket into the water before flying away, Friday was the first of three days of the Great Falls Balloon Festival. (Andree Kehn/Sun Journal)
Hot air balloons prepare to to launch Friday morning at Simard-Payne Memorial Park in Lewiston for the Great Falls Balloon Festival.
The crew forces the basket back down to the ground and lowers the balloon after the pilot Joel Jones discovers that one of the clips has become unfastened.
Balloons fly over Lewiston on Friday morning during the first launch of the Great Falls Balloon Festival.
Balloons take off from Simard-Payne Memorial Park in Lewiston on Friday morning.
A balloon flies near St. Mary's Catholic Church in Lewiston.
Balloons lift off from Simard-Payne Memorial Park on Friday morning.
The view from inside of Joel Jones' balloon.
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