WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. (WENY) -- People from all over the Finger Lakes region and beyond came to Castel Grisch Winery in Watkins Glen on Friday afternoon to cross something off their bucket lists. Some were able to do so at the kickoff of the first Finger Lakes Hot Air Balloon and Music Festival.
The thrill-seeking crowd helped ring in the first day of a weekend filled with festivities. Each day brings a huge list of vendors, music, and events for guests of all ages to enjoy.
It all started when organizers, Irene Radigan and Richard Burgess, made a trip to the Castel Grisch Winery on other business. Burgess made all of the metal art pieces throughout the establishment so, when the pair came to check them out, they spoke with the owner Daniel Lai.
Lai told the pair that he loves hot air balloons and Radigan happened to have a connection to someone who works Speedy Fest in Binghamton. She made a phone call to bring in some hot air balloons and the rest is history.
Now, hot air balloons from all over can come and check it all out.
"So we both decided a while back that going up in a hot air balloon would be something we'd both like to do," said Angela Polley, an attendee at the festival. "We've never been in one, never been to a hot air balloon festival. I always see stuff on TV, it looked cool. Tomorrow's his birthday, so we decided we were going to come and go in a hot air balloon tonight."
Polley and Donald Golden traveled to the festival from Geneva. They are among a large group of people who traveled to check something off their bucket lists.
Organizers say that 74% of their ticket sales for the first year of the festival are from people who have never been to the Finger Lakes region. Now, they have a chance to go up into the sky with one of several pilots on the grounds of the winery.
"The festival experience in my book is probably the best thing about ballooning because we're all like a tight-knit community, so basically every time we go out to an event we all know each other," said Bryant Maybee, one of the commercial pilots from Freedom Ballooning who is working the event. "It's like a big family reunion every time, and we do get to fly a lot, which is also the best part too."
While pilots like Maybee are used to their ballooning trips, first-timers are not used to the ride. But, Maybee assures them it's a smoother ride than they think. The pilot said that many people expect the rides to be shaky when, in fact, it's quite smooth.
However, there are a few options for ballooning being held throughout this weekend including tethered and untethered rides.
"So if you want to ride a hot air balloon, it's $25 for a tethered ride," said Richard Burgess, one of the co-founders and organizers of the Finger Lakes Hot Air Balloon and Music Festival. "I see one down there right now. Tethered rides are guaranteed after 3:30 pm. You just go down and hand the pilot directly the money and it goes right directly into their pocket. Stand in the line, there's no reservation necessary."
Irene Radigan continues, "If you want to do an untethered balloon, the cost is $350. We do ask that you come down and register and if you go onto our website...you should book that reservation."
If you are into the thrill and would like to do so, you still have plenty of time to head over to Watkins Glen and hitch a ride on a hot air balloon. You can preregister on the festival's website here.
But, if a balloon ride isn't your thing, you can still have fun staying on the ground. With around 90 booths on the property, guests can enjoy some good food and great company as well.