Since Star Wars' earliest beginnings in the late 1970s, the franchise's most iconic characters, music, and artifacts have become celebrated entities across the globe. Star Wars Nights are now a regular feature at baseball games. Galaxy's Edge serves as an entire park within Disney World and Disneyland dedicated to a galaxy far, far away. At various festivals -- such as the upcoming annual L/A Balloon Festival in the northeast -- Star Wars sneaks in to join the party any chance it gets.
The 31st annual Lewiston-Auburn Balloon Festival will take place starting Friday, August 15 at Simard-Payne Memorial Park in Lewiston, Maine. The event, which ends Sunday evening, will feature 18 balloons in total across multiple launches. Yoda and Darth Vader balloons will feature among the event's specialty balloons coinciding with the theme of "The Rise of the Balloons."
The L/A Balloon Festival is an annual three-day event that has a little something for everyone -- from parades to food, balloon rides and more. Each morning and evening of the event, a series of balloon launches takes place that allows guests to watch the unveiling of different balloons throughout the weekend.
According to the festival's Balloon Profiles, both Darth Vader ("Darth") and Yoda are specialty balloon shapes piloted by Lambert Benoit and Benoit Lambert respectively. Other specialty shapes include Spyder Pig and Bettie Jean The Butterfly, with the remainder of the balloons sharing a uniform shape but in different colors, all with names that will make you smile at the sight of them (and the balloons themselves too, of course).
Summer is winding down faster than most of us would like, but there is still plenty of time to celebrate your all-time favorite space franchise. If Maine is a bit too far away for a weekend getaway, check your local event listings to see if there are any events around you such as Star Wars trivia nights, costume contests, lightsaber fencing, or Star Wars-themed food. There are Star Wars fans just about everywhere, so chances are high that wherever you are, your people aren't far away!
The festival itself is free, so if you plan on being in the Lewiston-Auburn area this weekend, don't miss out on the fun. Just be aware that balloon rides, food, and other vendors may have their own fees associated with them upon entry. You can learn more on the L/A Balloon Festival website.