Lisle looks to the skies for hot air balloon festival

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You can relax and get an up-close view of the tethered balloon rides at the Lisle Eyes to the Skies festival.

Updated: September 29, 2011 12:38AM

If ever you’ve stared in wonder at the majesty of a hot air balloon soaring overhead, you aren’t alone.

Hot air balloons, which were first launched in France in 1783, are the centerpiece of Lisle’s aptly-named Eyes to the Skies Festival. This is the 29th annual event, which was started by the Lisle Park District as a way to honor the sesquicentennial in 1982.

This year’s fest features a five-day-long carnival, large craft fair, food court, live music, children’s activities, 4th of July parade and fireworks, and the daily balloon launches from the park district’s community park.

If you’ve ever wanted to see the Fox Valley area from a bird’s-eye view, there are tethered rides available on a first-come, first-serve basis for $25. They are located east of the bridge on Short Street outside of the festival entrance.

Each day, there also will be a balloon launch at 6 a.m. and 6 p.m., and a balloon glow at 8 p.m. Visitors do not have to pay to see the morning balloon launch. The carnival will run daily until 11 p.m. A mega-pass is available for $50.

In the children’s area (open from 3 to 7 p.m. July 1, and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. July 2-3) kids can partake in a wide number of creative activities including games, arts and crafts, face painting and music demos. Moon Jump, Inc. will bring out obstacle courses and bounce-house inflatables, and the Frog Lady will bring out live reptiles and amphibians. Look also for a magic show, puppet show, gymnastics and dance shows, and the All-American Lumberjack Show.

At the craft fair, more than 100 vendors will display artwork, jewelry, clothing and more. (The craft fair will be on Short Street west of the bridge and east of the carnival and main Festival entrance.)

There will be two stages for live music featuring bands such as American English, the Fold, 7th Heaven, Two White Crew, Rod Tuff Curls and Pirates Over 40, among others (a complete schedule is online at eyestotheskies.org).

The Fourth of July fireworks show will be at 9:45 p.m. July 3, synched to a musical score.

Annie Alleman is a local free-lance writer.