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2016 Lincoln Balloon Fest
LINCOLN DAILY NEWS
August 30, 2016
Woman on the ground, Angela Reiners, asks festival goers:
What is great about the Lincoln Balloon Fest?
[Angela Reiners with additional photos
by Jan Youngquist]
Though dark clouds and a chance of rain kept
balloons from launching Friday night, there
was still a fairly good crowd out at the airport
enjoying the food vendors, rides, games,
music, and balloon glow.
Among those at the balloon festival were
several from various parts of the state
attending for the first time.
Barbara Chavez and her husband live in
Pontiac and have been to a festival there,
but it was their first year at Lincoln’s festival.
Chavez said balloon lift offs are beautiful.
She also likes the funnel cakes and lemon
shake-ups.
Sophia from Bloomington said it was the
first time she, her mother, and grandmother
had been to the festival. She said, “I like the
games.”
First timers Sam Wise and Lilly and Lainie
Wills came from Mount Zion with their
families. They all like the balloons,. Lainie
said she would be happy if she gets to ride
rides and eat funnel cake.
Eric and Lucas from Springfield love the
balloons and all the festival food.
Dawn Spiesz said she had not been to the
balloon festival in many years and her infant
son Rylan had never been to one. Spiesz
said Rylan loves seeing the rides and all the
action. Their friend Jaxson, son of Ashley
Shook, enjoys the rides, especially the green
elephant ride.
CONTINUE ►
Two year old Carter Doolin loves seeing the balloon
launch and was able to see some lift off Thursday night.
Six local balloonist flew into Logan County Airport from
the northwest on Thursday. One balloon is hidden by
another in the center. The balloonists made short work
of their flight as conditions were tenuous for the potential
formation of thunderstorms. Low winds made for a slow
leisurely flight over nearby corn and soybean fields.
Several pilots landed their balloons at the far south
end of the airport near the National Weather Service
campus.