POUGHQUAG, N.Y. --- The Annual Hot Air Balloon Festival is being held at Barton Orchards in Poughquag and is being put on by the Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce.
Air Balloon crews have traveled to the Hudson Valley from as far as Canada. The festival features vendors from across the Hudson valley. Festival events include, helicopter and hot air balloon rides, hay rides, petting zoo, farmers market, live music and fireworks.
County Officials said it's a great way to get more people into Dutchess to experience hidden treasures in the Hudson valley. Officials said the weather is a big factor in the timing of balloon launches.
"What seems or appears to be a very calm or a very mild windy day, anything over 10 miles an hour we are not flying," said Roger Hooper, Hudson Valley Balloon Meister. "We'll have a pilot briefing where we check weather, we check with flight service making sure the weather is conducive the direction is conducive."
The three day festival ends Sunday. For more information on scheduled festival events, visit this website.