First-ever balloon sculpture festival brings fun to downtown Helena

INDEPENDENT RECORD

The first-ever Montana Balloon Sculpture Festival was held over the weekend, bringing inflatable art to the downtown Walking Mall, Holter Museum and the Great Northern Town Center.

McKinley Stewart checks out Wild(cat) Driver on Saturday at the first-ever Montana Balloon Sculpture Festival in downtown Helena. 

Gary Marshall, BMGphotos.com

The event, which organizer Neil Sauter of Sauter Balloons hopes to make an annual celebration, raised money for nearly two dozen Helena-area nonprofits. It was organized in conjunction with the United Way of the Lewis and Clark Area and featured 20 balloon sculptures and nearly 30,000 balloons.

The first-ever Montana Balloon Sculpture Festival was held over weekend in downtown Helena. The sculptures, part of a fundraiser for nonprofits, were placed along the walking mall, Holter Museum and Great Northern Town Center.

Gary Marshall, BMGphotos.com

The 48-hour event included walking tours showcasing the sculptures, balloon-twisting competitions and balloon-folding classes. It also featured raffle prizes, music and other entertainment.

There were to

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