Balloon bash makes return to Strathaven
Annual celebration drifts back into town
Residents in Strathaven are gearing up for this weekend’s Balloon Festival.
The popular event will begin at 6pm on Friday and run until Sunday at the John Hastie Park.
Previous years have been a huge success and organisers are keeping their fingers crossed for sunshine at this year’s event.
Twenty hot air balloons have been confirmed for the gathering.
If it’s not wet or too windy, there will be plenty of opportunity to get close-up to a huge hot air balloon.
A spokesperson for the festival said: “The annual hot air ballooning event is the only one of its kind in Scotland.
“Unlike many balloon gatherings, Strathaven Balloon Festival combine the magnificent sight of hot air balloons with their Saturday and Sunday fun days – so that there’s something for all the family to enjoy.”
Entry to the event is absolutely free of charge although donations are welcome.
The Strathaven Balloon Festival began when a group of people from the town thought it would be good to generate an exciting public event to help the local economy.
The first festival was held in Strathaven in 1999.
For more information on the event, visit www. strathavenballoonfestival.co.uk
The first balloons are set to take flight on Friday evening with earlyrisers on Saturday morning able to watch the first flights at 6am.
There will be a fun day for the rest of the day with more launches at around 6.15pm on both the Saturday and Sunday.
The showstopper of the weekend will come during the ‘Evening Glow’ on Saturday night, as the balloons light up at a pitch black park at around 9.30pm.