‘A Day at the Beach’
to kick off upcoming Balloon Fest
By Scott Mitchell Johnson
Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE — It will be a “day at the beach” as this year’s Crown of Maine Balloon Fest kicks off next Thursday with a street fair on Main Street in Presque Isle.
“The Elks Lodge is proud to again organize and host the annual Balloon Fest kick-off event with the assistance and cooperation of Main Street merchants and the Central Aroostook Chamber of Commerce,” said Vicki Delong, Elks exalted ruler.
Beginning at 4 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 22, Main Street in Presque Isle will be closed to vehicles from Academy Street to Blake Street. The street will reopen at 10 p.m.
For that evening, Main Street merchants will take on a beach atmosphere by offering special beach foods and merchandise, many with one-time only prices.
In addition to the offerings by Main Street merchants, live musical entertainment will be provided by the Grinn Brothers, a popular local trio comprised of Mel Smith, Frank Grant and Ira Dyer. They will be performing on stage at the intersection of State and Main streets beginning at 6 p.m.
TAMC will hold another “Spuddy Recovery Triathlon” competition on Main Street between State and Hall streets. Contestants in this event must travel through an obstacle course of hay bales, while transporting a 50-pound bag of potatoes with the use of a wheelchair, before maneuvering a rolling walker with a filled vase through more hay bales, and finally using a crutch to put a beach ball in a potato barrel before reversing the course back to the starting line.
Governor’s Restaurant will establish a new location for the evening at the corner of State and Main, where it will host a blueberry pie eating contest for children age 10 and under.
Wilder’s Jewelry will be holding a pizza eating contest, featuring Big Cheese pizza. This contest will be open to persons 11 years old and older and will have two age groups for the competition.
There will also be live music at KMH Music. In addition, as in prior years, there will be bounce houses, a magic show, dunking booth, plenty of “beach” food, a fashion show, demonstrations, and lots of other fun events.
“The 2013 Crown of Maine Balloon Fest is going to get off to a great start with a truly fun block party on Main Street in Presque Isle. The Presque Isle Elks and area merchants have planned a variety of contests that will be fun for both participants and spectators,” said Delong. “In addition, there will be live musical entertainment, the ever-popular dunking booth, a wide variety of food and unusual products at special prices. The whole family should be able to enjoy a memorable evening at the 2013 Crown of Maine Balloon Fest Street Fair.”
