Up, Up and Away - Let Your Spirit Soar

Fishermen will spend hours drifting on the lake fishing poles in hand waiting for that tug on the line.  Hunters sit in camouflage quietly waiting and watching for the big buck, sometimes for hours.  Sportsmen sit in front of the TV rooting for their team, game after game, win after win, loss after loss.  And photographers travel, trek and chase - all to capture that one, perfect photograph.  In some ways photographers, amateur and professional, are much like sportsman.  We are dedicated to our sport and will go to any length to chase our passion and tonight that passion took us to the Saratoga Balloon and Craft Festival in Ballston Spa, NY.  I'm not aware of any other event that brings together such a large group of photography enthusiasts to one place, but then again, where else can you capture such color, such beauty in one place?

While there is much more to see and do at the Balloon and Craft Festival than watch the inflation and launch of balloons, I will admit that I'm there just for the balloons.  We went to this event last year and this year it seems the word got out because this evenings crowds were much larger than last year.  Even so, the crowd was friendly and manageable and for a smaller festival, I think the organizers have done an excellent job of putting together a great mix of fun for the kids, high quality craft vendors for the adults, a good variety of food and beverage and even managed to get some great weather too.  It was a beautiful afternoon and evening and although the wind wasn't as cooperative as the pilots would have liked, several of the balloons did manage to launch.  If you haven't been to a balloonfest....this is a great one to attend.  Big enough to be exciting and small enough to manage.  The festival continues through the weekend with launches at 6:30 a.m on Saturday and Sunday and again around 6:30 Saturday evening.  For more information, check out the official link provided below.   And if you can't make it this year.....here's a little peak of what you're missing.

Thank you to the organizers and to all the balloon pilots for an awesome event.

http://balloonandcraft.com/

https://www.facebook.com/saratogaballoonandcraftfestival?fref=ts