Pilot David Bowling ignites the burners to inflate The Wind Whisperer during the Erie Balloon festival in Erie on July 11, 2026. (Joel Solis/Staff Photographer)
Spectators point toward the sky during the Erie Balloon Festival on Saturday. (Joel Solis/Staff Photographer)
Passengers wave as they take flight during the Erie Balloon festival in Erie on July 11, 2026. (Joel Solis/Staff Photographer)
Spectators watch hot air balloons inflate during the Erie Balloon festival in Erie on July 11, 2026. (Joel Solis/Staff Photographer)
A hot air balloon takes flight into the sunrise during the Erie Balloon festival in Erie on Saturday. The festival continues from Friday through Sunday. (Joel Solis/Staff Photographer)
Kristy Shine, right, takes photos of balloons during the Erie Balloon festival in Erie on July 11, 2026. (Joel Solis/Staff Photographer)
Pilot Ben Bookman inflates the hot air balloon with the burners during the Erie Balloon festival in Erie on July 11, 2026. (Joel Solis/Staff Photographer)
Crew prepare to attach the parachute vent to the balloon Sapphire Dream during the Erie Balloon festival in Erie on July 11, 2026. (Joel Solis/Staff Photographer)
Fire from a burner inflates the balloon, Bunting, during the Erie Balloon festival in Erie on July 11, 2026. (Joel Solis/Staff Photographer)
Balloons take off from a field near Erie High School during the Erie Balloon Festival on Saturday. The festival began Friday and was set to run into Sunday. (Joel Solis/Staff Photographer)
The Wind Whisperer takes flight as crew wave it off during the Erie Balloon Festival on Saturday. (Joel Solis/Staff Photographer)
Spectators watch balloons in the sky from their front porch during the Erie Balloon festival in Erie on July 11, 2026. (Joel Solis/Staff Photographer)
Shadows cast on the parachute vent as a crew inflates the balloon, Sapphire Dream, during the Erie Balloon festival in Erie on July 11, 2026. (Joel Solis/Staff Photographer)
Spectators watch and take photos as balloons prepare to take flight during the Erie Balloon festival in Erie on July 11, 2026. (Joel Solis/Staff Photographer)
Jenna Battillo watches balloons inflate during the Erie Balloon festival in Erie on July 11, 2026. (Joel Solis/Staff Photographer)
The Hot air balloon, Wonderland, takes flight during the Erie Balloon festival in Erie on July 11, 2026. (Joel Solis/Staff Photographer)
A crew member holds on to a tether as the balloon, Bunting, inflates during the Erie Balloon festival in Erie on July 11, 2026. (Joel Solis/Staff Photographer)
Crew members hold on to tethers as a balloon deflates after a landing during the Erie Balloon festival in Erie on July 11, 2026. (Joel Solis/Staff Photographer)
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Pilot David Bowling ignites the burners to inflate The Wind Whisperer during the Erie Balloon festival in Erie on July 11, 2026. (Joel Solis/Staff Photographer)