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Quechee Balloon Festival returns for 43rd year

The festivities happen rain or shine. Visitors can expect food trucks, 60 local craft vendors, and beer and wine gardens.

THE 43RD ANNUAL HOT AIR BALLOON FESTIVAL KICKING OFF IN QUECHEE ALL WEEKEND LONG. BALLOONS ARE SCHEDULED TO LAUNCH TWICE A DAY. NBC FIVE’S JOHN HAWKS CHECKED IN WITH ORGANIZERS ABOUT WHAT PEOPLE CAN EXPECT FROM THE FESTIVAL. HE JOINS US LIVE NOW WITH MORE DETAILS. HEY, JOHN. YEAH, THAT’S RIGHT, ALICE AND BRIAN. I’M OUT HERE ON THE GREEN WHERE THE BALLOONS ARE STARTING TO GET READY. WE HAVEN’T HEARD THE OFFICIAL WORD YET, BUT IT’S UNDERWAY ALL WEEKEND LONG. THE 43RD ANNUAL BALLOON FESTIVAL KICKING OFF FOR FATHER’S DAY WEEKEND. IT’S THE LONGEST RUNNING FESTIVAL OF ITS KIND IN NEW ENGLAND. AND IT’S A RAIN OR SHINE EVENT. BALLOONS ARE VERY AFFECTED BY WEATHER, BUT MOSTLY BY WIND. A LITTLE BIT OF RAIN WOULDN’T DO HIM ANY HARM. BUT THE RAIN USUALLY BRINGS WIND WITH US. SO THEY CAN’T FLY UNLESS IT’S ON THE TEN MILES AN HOUR. AND THE BEST TIME FOR FLYING IS LIKE BETWEEN 5 AND 7 MILES AN HOUR. THE FESTIVAL WILL FEATURE 16 HOT AIR BALLOONS WITH PLANS OF LAUNCHING EVERY MORNING AROUND 6 A.M. AND EVERY EVENING AROUND 6 P.M., ALL BALLOON RIDES ARE SOLD OUT. BUT THERE IS ONE LAST MINUTE OPPORTUNITY TO GET HIGH IN THE SKY. WE ALSO HAVE TO GET SOME TETHERED BALLOONS UP, TETHERED BALLOONS OR BALLOONS THAT GO UP ABOUT 100FT IN THE AIR. AND THERE THEY’RE EXCITING AND IT’S ABOUT $25. FORGET THE TETHERED BALLOON, RIGHT UP. AND THERE’S A BETTER CHANCE OF GETTING THEM UP WITH THE WEATHER. THERE ARE OTHER ATTRACTIONS BESIDES FLYING OVER THE VERMONT LANDSCAPE, LIKE FOOD TRUCKS, 60 LOCAL CRAFT VENDORS AND BEER AND WINE GARDENS. YOU KNOW, WE HAVE ABOUT 12 TO 15 FOOD VENDORS, EVERYTHING FROM PIZZA TO SOURDOUGH TO THE USUAL VENDOR FARE AND ALSO SKINNY PANCAKES ARE HERE. THEY’RE A BIG, BIG FAVORITE OF EVERY YEAR. GRILLED CHEESE AND TOMATO SOUP IS MAKING A RETURN THIS YEAR. IN WATCHING THE CROWDS IS THIS VENDORS FAVORITE PART. BUT JUST SEEING EVERYBODY OUT AND HANGING OUT AND SELLING A LOT OF GRILLED CHEESES WITH TOMATO SOUP FOR DUNKIN AND SLURPING FOR SOME LITTLE ONES, FOOD IS TAKING A PRIORITY. I NEVER HAD COTTON CANDY BEFORE, THOUGH. LIVE MUSIC WILL ALSO BE A BIG PART OF THE FESTIVAL ALL THREE DAYS, WHICH IS TOO FAR AWAY. SAME WITH KIDS. ENTERTAINMENT MAGICIAN, COMEDIANS AND JUGGLERS WILL MAKE AN APPEARANCE IN THE KIDS ZONE. THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IS TELLING US THAT THIS IS ONE OF THEIR LARGEST EVENTS OF THE YEAR, AND THEY’RE HAPPY TO SEE

Quechee Balloon Festival returns for 43rd year

The festivities happen rain or shine. Visitors can expect food trucks, 60 local craft vendors, and beer and wine gardens.