Djeneba Dosso
LJI Reporter
It would not be a Gatineau summer without its annual Hot Air Balloon Festival. The iconic summer send-off began on August 29 and stretched into Labour Day weekend, ending on September 2. Stakes were high for the 37th edition as it was succeeding last summer’s nearly perfect festival which saw a record-breaking attendance of over 225,000, generating $15 million in economic spinoff for the Outaouais region. This year, the five-day festival featured twenty hot air balloons of different colours, shapes and sizes “set to soar to new heights” with all new entertainment and thrilling attractions for everyone.
Music lovers were spoiled with performances from top artists, notably, country star and three-time CCMA Artist of the Year Dallas Smith, Jonathan Roy, Dave Fenley and world-renowned artist and recent Juno Awards winner, Charlotte Cardin as the headliner. They shared the stage with local artists during the all-rap evening on Sunday featuring the biggest names in Quebec rap: Souldia, FouKi, Koriass and Die-On, just to name a few. A selection of DJs tasked with keeping the energy high were on rotation throughout the weekend.
Other forms of entertainment included a three-tier graffiti competition, Silent Disco, car shows and twenty rides for all ages at the Beauce Carnaval amusement park. Monday, September 2 marked Family Day, sponsored by Desjardins and “dedicated to creating unforgettable memories for families.” From 10:30 am to 5 pm, children 10 and under enjoyed family-friendly activities and live shows. In the evening, eventgoers watched multimedia shows and fireworks.
The hot air balloons evening flights, the clear stars of the show, were scheduled to take place every evening around 6:30 pm, weather permitting. This year, hot air balloon rides cost $395 pre-tax. It was also possible for eventgoers to gain access to the festival grounds around 6 am from Friday to Monday to watch the hot air balloons take off.
Photo caption
Photo #1: Gatineau’s annual summer send-off event was back for its 37th edition from August 29 to September 2 at La Baie Park. (DD) Photo: Courtesy