Words and Photos: Tom Schassler

Every year Lake George, New York hosts the Adirondack Balloon Festival. Around 100 balloonists launched at 5 pm Saturday night. Balloons ranging from your standard multi – colored quilted pattern to a giant dragon and saxophone. Food vendors were lined up along the tarmac, but were crowded with long lines due to attendance. The parking was easy, until it was time to leave. People were screaming at one another while parking attendants were chatting and not helping direct traffic – some workers even took the liberty to argue with patrons. It took us nearly 2 hours to get from the parking lot adjacent from the venue back to the center of Glens Falls. With this said my advice would be to pack your own food, and be prepared to walk back to your car after the first balloon launches. In the end, was it worth it? Maybe this one time, but next year I will be giving it the pass.