By the time you’re reading this, a colorful armada will have taken over the western skies of Bend.

The Balloons Over Bend festival marks a decade in Riverbend Park on SW Columbia Street this weekend with three days of hot air balloon launches and a children’s festival on Saturday, featuring a bounty of interactive activities for the whole family.

The smaller, community feel of the whole weekend is a draw for veteran pilots like Bill Woodward, who’s flown in larger festivals as far away as Israel.

“We get to be a lot more involved in the community here and with the volunteer folks who come out to help with the balloon,” Woodward said. “You’re one of 10 or 12 balloons as opposed of hundreds in Reno or Albuquerque.”

Eight pilots from Alaska to California have brought their multi-story nylon creations to the banks of the Deschutes River this weekend.

Woodward hails from Grants Pass, where his WWJD (Walk With Jesus Daily) balloon anchors His Sky Ministries. He says they haven’t gotten much pushback from festivals over the years for their religious message.

“It’s simply a design we’ve chosen to share God’s love with people,” he said. “We don’t push anything down anyone’s throat, we just share if they ask what the balloon’s about.”

Redmond resident Darren Kling is another Oregon resident scheduled to fly this weekend. He has been a commercial hot air balloon pilot for more than two decades and has been flying in Central Oregon for 15 years.

Kling will be in charge of the airfield this weekend when he’s not up in his hand-painted “Air Aloft” balloon, a 60-foot-tall floating painting inspired by the mountain ranges of the Northwest.

“The scenery here is great once you’re up in the air,” he said. “You can see all through the central Cascades. It’s a fun challenge to fly Bend because of the wind, but it’s worth it because it’s such a beautiful place to fly.”

The pre-flight area is open to the public without restriction except Friday evening before the Night Glow due to the potential for wind gusts and other hazards.

Woodward advises parents of younger children to be cautious near the balloons; he’s seen the towering structures intimidate a few kindergarteners, though most are awestruck by how large and colorful the balloons are up close.

“Once [the kids] get a little older, their imagination just takes over,” he said. “It’s important, because we also want to increase their interest in ballooning so that it continues on into the future.”

In addition to the hot air balloons, there are more than 20 booths and activities available to kids and their families on Saturday.

The children’s festival will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and will feature a variety of attractions focused on the well-being of Central Oregon residents.

“It’s a very diverse lineup this year,” said Karin Roy, creative director for Lay It Out Events. She pointed to the acts scheduled to perform on the Riverbend stage as examples, including a dance studio highlighting the history of Bend and the K9 Kings aerial dog show.

“All of these diverse organizations, some commercial, some educational, are all fun ways to introduce children to our resources in a creative way.”

One activity sure to be popular among all ages will be Lego’s Ninjago area, where kids can build and play with an undisclosed Lego item before it’s available in stores.

On the local front, groups such as Bend Research and Discover Your Forest will be among the participants.

Kids will have the chance to try everything from identifying birds to making slime, that viscous cornstarch mixture that never fails to confound and amaze first-timers.

“The ethos of our event is to show how (the community) can come together and contribute to the quality of life that we have here in Central Oregon,” Roy said. “The focus is really from the experiential side for kids, on all the ways you can have fun in Central Oregon while living a healthy life.”

A portion of the proceeds go to benefit Saving Grace, a local organization that works with victims of domestic and family violence.

According to Saving Grace director of development Lauren Dubose, last year’s event raised more than $5,000 for the nonprofit. Saving Grace will have its own booth at the festival with a life-size Jenga game meant to educate players on the traits of healthy relationships.

Corporate sponsors will give festival passes to underprivileged youth through one of nine Central Oregon institutions such as the Boys and Girls Club and Big Brothers Big Sisters.

“It’s a great opportunity for everyone to be involved in a community event focused on families and spending quality time together,” Dubose said.

The festival is free to attend all weekend. All-inclusive passes for children to participate in the booth activities and bounce houses are $15; parents and guardians can join in at no extra cost.

— Reporter: 541-382-1811, ext. 404, wrubin@bendbulletin.com