The Canowindra International Balloon Committee (absent committee member from photo Tommy Jeffs – Inset) pictured
with Neil Gill and Andrew Gee at the enLIVEn Festival must be congratulated on their hard work over the week.
The Canowindra International Balloon Challenge came to a close over the weekend after a very successful Saturday in the village saw a number of visitors enjoying the days festivities.
A large crowd gathered along Gaskill Street on Saturday morning for the Main Street Parade led by local Tommy Jeffs and best decorated bike winner Harry Maynard, followed by a marching band, local dancers, historic cars and tractors and the balloonists. The crowd was then treated to a re-enactment by the Ben Hall Gang out the front of the Royal Hotel, live music and dancing in the street.
At the amazing Cabonne Community Balloon Glow on Saturday night over 6,000 people filed through the gates at the Canowindra Sports Oval.
The lower oval was filled with market stalls and food vendors and the top oval was full of spectators spread out on picnic rugs enjoying the afternoon.
The crowd was entertained by local dancers from Alikinetic Dance, gymnasts from Central West Gymsports, local band Cranbury Jam, Neil Gill from Orange and the crowd favourite, country singer James Johnston.
After a brief shower, the rain held off for the balloons to fill the night sky dancing away to popular music.
“The Canowindra community and town put on a great show for all the visitors last week, with near perfect weather the visiting balloonists had a ball of a time,” said Andrew Pull, President of the Canowindra International Balloon Committee.