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RUSS DILLINGHAM/SUN JOURNAL
Balloons lift off Saturday morning, Aug. 16, 2025 at Simard-Payne Memorial Park during the Lewiston-Auburn Balloon Festival. BUY IMAGE |
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I have covered the majority of Lewiston and Auburn's balloon festivals since the first one in the early 90s, taking thousands of photos and videos from the ground, on the water, on bridges, from planes, in balloon baskets and now with a drone.
Year after year covering the festival, day after day, it has almost become routine. But I always challenge myself to try to find different angles and use past experiences to get the “money shots.”
The one thing that is not routine — and what I look forward to the most — is capturing the awe and wonder in children’s eyes and their facial expressions when they see a balloon rise into the sky for the first time. It’s priceless.
Some people say, “you see one balloon launch, you have seen them all,” but I still get goosebumps when witnessing the colorful spectacle and love to hear them flying overhead in the morning when sitting on my porch with a cup of coffee in the summer. It’s always a great way to start my day.
I can’t wait for next year.
- Russ Dillingham |
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RUSS DILLINGHAM/
SUN JOURNAL |
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Children are silhouetted as they play in the walkthrough balloon Friday night at Simard-Payne Memorial Park in Lewiston during this year's festival. |
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RUSS DILLINGHAM/
SUN JOURNAL |
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Tate Soucy steadies the crown line for a balloon as others inflate for the Friday evening launch at Simard-Payne Memorial Park. |
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LIBBY KAMROWSKI KENNY/SUN JOURNAL |
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August Butcher fences an opponent Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025, as part of the Society For Creative Anachronism's performances at Simard-Payne Memorial Park. The evening hot air balloon launch was canceled due to windy conditions.
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RUSS DILLINGHAM/
SUN JOURNAL |
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Sunrise Passion, floating in background, was the first balloon to lift off Friday, Aug. 15, 2025, from Simard-Payne Memorial Park. The first morning launch of the festival was grounded by winds. |
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RUSS DILLINGHAM/
SUN JOURNAL |
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People play in the walkthrough balloon Saturday afternoon, Aug. 16, 2025, at Simard-Payne Memorial Park. |
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RUSS DILLINGHAM/
SUN JOURNAL |
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Ben Weisner, of Auburn, waves to the crowd as he lifts off in his balloon, Sky, Friday night at Simard-Payne Memorial Park. |
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RUSS DILLINGHAM/SUN JOURNAL
Balloons lift off from Simard-Payne Memorial Park during the morning launch Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025. BUY IMAGE |
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