5 "Must-Dos" for Adirondack Balloon Festival Weekend

For many of us who have grown up in the Adirondacks, the fall isn’t really the fall until the Adirondack Balloon Festival inflates its way into the crisp September weekend and ushers out the summer.  Glorious autumn mornings reveal family traditions and “must-dos” for thousands of locals and tourists alike. 

For me, the Festival brings me back 14 years ago to the weekend of my wedding, when our guests were treated to visions of rising balloons during our ceremony at The Fort William Henry, followed by a fireworks display that we fooled many into thinking was just for us.

When I surveyed my friends and family about what the Festival meant for them, the various answers had one common thread: each of them enjoyed something on Festival weekend that, really, had nothing at all to do with the Festival itself.  Everyone mentioned an activity, meal, or stop that was a “must” for the weekend.  Some were common and popular.  Others were farther off the beaten path.  In no particular order, and with much subjectivity and bias, here are my top 5 “must-dos” for the Adirondack Balloon Festival weekend:

• The Silo – The Silo has been consistently known as one of the breakfast spots in the area for decades.  I remember going there as a kid, confidently thinking I would handle a large stack of pancakes only to be completely full after 1 ½.  Now, 20 years and – ahem – a few pounds later, I still have trouble finishing a big stack.  The Silo is so much more than breakfast or lunch. My kids love going there for the candy and my wife loves it for the unique items they sell.  It is a place unlike any other in our area. 

• Rathbun’s – The most popular response to my informal and unscientific survey was also (admittedly and ashamedly) the one place on this list I have yet to visit.  My friends tell me Rathbun’s has Maple Syrup that is “divine.”  They offer a small but delicious breakfast menu that is the perfect start to a day of balloon-peeping.  My family and I have already marked Rathbun’s as our must-do this fall and I look forward to reporting back with my findings. 

• Hick’s Apple Orchard – Apple-picking is a sort of rite of passage for families in the fall.  By now most locals know about Hick’s as a standout amongst an incredible local lineup of orchards.  When going to Hick’s, you need to allot a substantial amount of time to stand in line for the best cider donuts in the area.  Our last visit saw an almost-40 minute wait.  But it was well worth it. You also don’t want to miss the hidden treasure at Hick’s, the fantastic hard cider of Slyboro Cider House. 

• Common Roots Brewery – I can’t tell you how many people who, when I mention Common Roots say “I have been meaning to get there.”  Mean no more.  Just do.  In this admitted beer snob’s opinion, CRB boasts the area’s finest craft beer.  Their Double IPA, “Bright Light”, is incredible.  While they don’t offer food, they encourage patrons to purchase elsewhere and come with their own food.  They often bring in food trucks as well.  And they have cornhole.  Local beer and cornhole?  Why haven’t you gone yet? 

• Morgan and Company – Like CRB, Morgan and Company is a relative newcomer to the area.  An amazing end to a Festival day – or any day for that matter is dinner at this downtown Glens Falls restaurant.  While I haven’t tried this as a family restaurant, I’ve enjoyed dinners there both as a “date night” and in a business setting.  Everything I’ve tried was wonderful, but two suggestions to start and finish your meal: try the Moroccan Cigars for an appetizer and the Strawberry Shortcake for dessert. 

Start your own family traditions this fall, maybe with one of the places above.   What do you and your family like to do during Festival weekend?  

Blog post written by Trent Sano.

Trent is a Lake George native and works as the Director of Human Resources for the Six Flags Great Escape resort.  He lives in Queensbury with his amazing wife and two wonderful children.