WELLSVILLE — A packed week is coming as colorful balloons of all shapes and sizes festoon classic cars, fire trucks, trailers and floats Saturday — before their big brothers come to town July 18-20 for the 48th Annual Great Wellsville Balloon Rally.

Rally events get underway this Saturday when the 26th balloon rally parade steps off at 11 a.m. from Pearl Street and proceeds down South/North Main Street to Hanover Street.

According to parade organizer Rich Mangels of WLSV/WJQZ radio, there are 55 registered units in the parade, and more coming in daily.

“It’s about what we usually have for this parade,” he said.

For the first time, the Babcock Movie Theater Preservation Society will have a float in the parade emphasizing its work on renovating the iconic movie theater. Other participants include the Texas Hot, Smokey the Bear, the local library, classic and newer model cars including the 2014 Camaro Buffalo Bills car and the SPCA Serving Allegany County. There will be floats from various local businesses, organizations and clubs including a float from the local Elks Club celebrating its 100th anniversary in Wellsville.

The Wellsville Marching Lions are also scheduled to perform.

Mangels said the parade will end when the gondola from the locally owned hot air balloon Child’s Play fires its burner.

During the week, the Balloon Rally trailer will be parked on Main Street near the police station selling merchandise from this year’s event including t-shirts and posters. Thursday night, July 17, at Music on the Lawn at the library eminent Elvis impersonator Terry Buckwald will bring The King alive at 7 p.m. for a free public performance sponsored by the Balloon Rally.

Throughout the week rally committee members will be getting the Lagoon Fields at Island Park prepared for the vendors, balloons and thousands of spectators. The 48th rally will get underway July 18 in the evening with the first mass liftoff scheduled for 6 p.m.

According to the statistics kept by the rally committee, between 30 and 35 balloons will launch from the site. Some familiar faces will be in the mix including local balloons like Child’s Play along with balloons from outside the area like Sky Turkey. Friday night after the launch, the balloons are scheduled to return to the site and will participate in an afterglow.

The rally gets underway again at 6 a.m. Saturday morning, July 19.

Following that morning launch, Main Street will be alive for the annual Wellsville Area Chamber of Commerce Main Street Festival. Main Street from Pearl to State will be crammed with vendors selling everything from t-shirts and jewelry to popcorn and sausage sandwiches and more.

“This year’s Main Street Festival is once again sold out with over 145 vendors attending,” said Bruce Thomas, executive director of the Wellsville Area Chamber of Commerce. “Festival activities will fill Main, Jefferson, Madison and Fassett streets.”

Visitors can expect a wide ariety of vendors offering handmade jewelry, artwork, crafts, candles, purses, jams and jellies, clothing, pet supplies, photographs, wood crafts, books  and more. A wide selection of local and regional food vendors will also be on hand to provide festival fare.

New this year, handicap-accessible parking will be available in the Jones Memorial Hospital lot, located across from the Texas Hot (accessible off Pearl Street). Access is first come, first served — visitors must present a valid ADA parking tag to the lot attendant for entry.

The festival also includes booths from local organizations including the Nathaniel Dike Museum and the Babcock Theater group under the theater marquee, where they will offer free popcorn as well as information about what is happening in the theater.

The Main Street Festival concludes at around 4 p.m.

The Saturday night hot air balloon launch is scheduled to take place at 6 p.m. Along with food vendors there will be vendors with trinkets and memorabilia associated with hot air ballooning. That night a local band will provide music. After the launch the balloons will return to the site and participate in an afterglow until the annual fireworks display.

The rally will come to an end with the 6 a.m. Sunday launch on July 20. The rally itself is free to the public although the committee hopes that those visiting will help defray costs by purchasing t-shirts and other memorabilia from the rally trailer.

Those attending the rally are advised that there is no smoking on site due to the use of propane gas. They are also advised to leave their dogs at home due to the noise made by the balloons and for the safety of the crowd at the rally site. They are also advised to bring chairs or blankets to sit upon.

Those driving to the event should be aware that parking onsite is limited to committee members and the disabled. Free parking is available at Riverwalk Plaza on Route 417 and at the Northern Lights Plaza on Route 19. Free shuttle rides are available from both plazas to and from the rally site.