Lewiston, Auburn make final preparations as Balloon Fest nears [Video]

LEWISTON — City staff and volunteers working on this year’s Lewiston-Auburn Balloon Festival are making a final fundraising push and last-minute preparations with the three-day event only two weeks away.

Organizers say they are feeling confident that this year’s festival will be well-received — especially with only a few months’ planning — with new features, the return of a carnival, a slate of musical performances and more.

According to the festival website, 14 balloons will take part in the festival between Aug. 16-18 in Simard-Payne Memorial Park on Beech Street.

After the original organizers of the Great Falls Balloon Festival announced its cancellation in May, the cities of Lewiston and Auburn stepped in to run it. In recognition of that, the name was changed.

But while it may have felt like a scramble, organizers say the unique situation this year led to renewed energy around the festival. Sponsorships began rolling in, vendors …