Grishkot works to continue her late husband’s legacy
GLENS FALLS, N.Y. » Pilots from Brazil to Great Britain are visiting this year’s Adirondack Balloon Festival, which features a variety of new special shapes such as “Bido” the blue pup and “Puddles and Splash,” a pair of penguins that fly side by side.
This year’s 46th annual event also pays tribute to the 46 Adirondack High Peaks with a logo that reflects ballooning and hiking.
Joan Grishkot, who cofounded the event with her late husband, Walt, said he’d be extremely pleased by the international flair of this year’s festival, as they both worked hard to promote goodwill among nations through hot air ballooning.
In addition to welcoming foreign pilots, they built positive relations by attending other festivals from Saga, Japan to Gatineau, Canada.
“Walter and I never thought this would last 46 years,” Joan Grishkot said. “I’ve met so many nice people and have such wonderful memories. It’s been a great ride.”
She’s still in charge of lining up sponsors. Unlike many festivals, this one is still free, as expenses are primarily paid for through fundraising.
“We’re all volunteers,” Grishkot said. “You just have to pitch in and be wherever you’re needed.”
The event, which typically attracts more than 120,000 spectators, kicks off at 4 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 20 at Crandall Park in Glens Falls and continues through Sunday, Sept. 23 at Floyd Bennett Memorial Airport in Queensbury.
Six launches are planned during the four-day run. All flights are held weather permitting.
Brazilian pilot Luiz Paulo Assis will bring two balloons to the festival. The 110-foot-tall “Bido” is one of Brazil’s most popular cartoon characters. He weighs 467 pounds and was built in 60 days with 2,840 yards of ripstop nylon.
“Bido” is joined by “Saxon,” the world’s only flying saxophone, which stands 120 feet tall.
The penguins “Puddles and Splash” are piloted by Andrew Holly and Ben Alford of Bristol, England.
Another pair of special shapes, making their East Coast debut at this year’s festival are “Tom Cat and Terry the Mouse,” owned and flown by John Cavin, of Indialantic, Fla. Cavin flew “The Purple People Eater” at many previous Adirondack Balloon Festivals.
Another fan favorite, “Scorch” the dragon, will be back this year, flown by Keith Sproul of New Brunswick, N.J. “Scorch,” who stands 145 feet tall and weighs 675 pounds, debuted in June 2016 at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum.
Sproul has another new balloon, “Fred the Rabbit,” which will be piloted by Walt Rudy, of Wadsworth, Ohio.
The festival, which is also a major contributor to the local economy, has already been featured in publications such as the I Love NY Travel Guide, Amtrak By the Rail and Martha Stewart Living. For a full schedule of activities go to: adirondackballoonfest.org.