Comedian Gary Faulds will officially open this year's Strathaven Balloon Festival. The event runs from Friday to Sunday, August 28 to 30.
Faulds Invites Families to Free Event
Faulds said he is due to go up in a balloon himself as he invited people to the “phenomenal” free event. He told his Facebook followers: “I’m opening the Strathaven Balloon Festival and I can’t wait.
“It’s on the 29th and 30th of August. It is spectacular, Strathaven is a stunning place, but this balloon festival is the epicentre of what Strathaven is all about.
“It’s a nice thing, everyone wants to come visit Strathaven for this. The event is completely free, they rely on donations, so when you go on the day, take a wee bit of cash, and throw it in the bucket.
“But I suggest that you visit this, it’s spectacular. On the Friday the balloons arrive and then through that weekend you’ll see them flying about.
“It’s phenomenal, bring the weans, there’s hundreds of activities that you can get involved in, and it just shows why Strathaven is the perfect place for a family. There’s going to be things like live music, there’s going to be vendors there, hundreds to do, please bring the family and come and see the Strathaven Balloon Festival, it’s a beautiful community.”
Balloon Schedule and Entertainment
The balloons will arrive on Friday, August 28, and, if the weather allows, there will be balloon flights that evening, just after 6pm. Then on Saturday and Sunday at around 6am, weather permitting, there will be balloon launches. More launches are planned for Saturday and Sunday, just after 6pm.
On Saturday and Sunday at 4pm, visitors can watch The Sky Masters, from Skydive Strathallan. Then on Saturday, just after 9pm, it will be the spectacular Evening Glow.
Throughout Saturday and Sunday, from 12pm, there will be all sorts of entertainment in the park, during the family fun day with live music, a fun fair, stalls galore, classic vehicles and much more.
Fundraising and Donations
The festival organisers are on the final push for fundraising and you can donate at www.justgiving.com/page/strathaven-balloon-festival-2. Visitors can also drop money into buckets during the festival or buy raffle tickets to win great prizes. All times are weather permitting.
