Mission:

The mission of the Great Falls Balloon Festival is to provide fundraising opportunities for local non-profit organizations, while celebrating our community and promoting the Lewiston/Auburn area as a visitor destination.

History:

Established in 1992 by a small group of business people, civic leaders and friends, the Great Falls Balloon Festival is the premier summer event of central Maine. It enjoys a national reputation as a first-class event and hosts visitors and balloonists from all over the US and Canada. This much-loved event is a destination for many visitors to the state of Maine.

Based at Simard-Payne Memorial Park (formerly Railroad Park), in Lewiston, on the banks of the Androscoggin River, the festival has become a huge success, attracting crowds of approximately 100,000 visitors annually. The river with the rocky Great Falls as its backdrop provides a picturesque setting for the dozens of balloons which visit annually, including some special shape balloons. The cooperative efforts of the cities of Lewiston and Auburn, an army of volunteers and valued local businesses have grown the festival into a truly memorable event.