Tethered balloon rides are planned from 6 to 8 p.m. Aug. 1 for $25 per person and are part of the opening celebrations of the Donald M. Robinson Photography Biennial 2025 exhibition, which runs from July 25 to Oct. 19. A ceremony to announce the award winners will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Aug. 2 at the museum, located at 137 E. Pitt St., Bedford.

The balloon rides will be provided by The Sky’s the Limit Ballooning of

Lemont, Centre

County. According to the company’s website, during a tether, the balloon is secured to the ground and is able to float 40-80 feet above the ground, giving passengers the sensation of flying.

Courtesy photo

According to Scott Riner, site director of Bedford and Altoona museums, tickets will only be sold the day of the event due to the many weather factors that impact the activity.

“It’s a cool idea and opportunity,” Riner said, crediting a former site director with the idea as a novel way to earn a higher profile for the museum — and it’s been successful.

“We have noticed more traffic on our social media pages because of this event. A paid Facebook ad captured the attention of 2,000 people within 12 hours and now has reached 4,500 views in a month with more than 5,000 people expressing an interest in the event.

“I think for a lot of people it’s the novelty. It’s the artistry of how it is done. People want to see it and take pictures. We are encouraging that,” Riner said. From the balloon, scenic Bedford will be visible from downtown to the rural area surrounding it.

The photography aspect of the event for those in the balloon and for those watching make it a fitting tribute for the opening of the photography exhibition.

Courtesy photo

“It’s a celebration of Robinson’s legacy,” Riner said. “He traveled to all continents and spent his life taking pictures of people, places and animals from all around the world.”

The balloon rides are a fundraiser for the museum with sponsors the Donald & Sylvia Robinson Family Foundation and Benzel’s Bretzel Bakery covering the cost of the related exhibition events.

The Sky’s the Limit website lists the cost of a tethered event at $1,500 per hour and a two-hour minimum commitment. Each ride will last between five and 10 minutes, Riner said. He hopes to raise $2,000 for the museum.

As for the juried exhibition, it features more than 50 artists and 90-some photographs.

“It’s a nice mixture of photographs — landscapes, people and places — from all around the country and around the world. It really honors Robinson’s legacy,” he said, noting one artist is from Australia.

Artworks included in the exhibition were selected by juror Nicole Elliott of Baltimore who works as a freelance designer. She spent nearly 20 years at National Geographic working alongside art directors, photographers, and designers as an image editor and book production director.

Cash awards will include a top prize of $2,000 for first place, $1,000 second place award, and $750 for the third-place award. Prizes will be awarded by juror Skip Allen, an award-winning and commercial photographer in Pittsburgh.

SAMA Trustee and Bedford native Meghan Bardell is the guest curator of the exhibition. She is an entrepreneur and abstract painter.

Staff Writer Patt Keith is at 814-949-7030.

If you go

What: Donald M. Robinson Photography Biennial 2025 exhibition

When: July 25 to Oct. 19

Where: The Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art, 137 E. Pitt St., Bedford

Related events

What: Tethered balloon rides

When: 6 to 8 p.m. Aug. 1

Where: Bedford County Fairgrounds, 729 W Pitt St, Bedford

Cost: $25 per ticket; tickets on sale day of event

What: Opening and award celebration

When: 6 to 8 p.m. Aug. 2

Where: The Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art, 137 E. Pitt St., Bedford

Cost: $10 per person

For more information about these events, visit www.sama-art.org or call 814-589-3020

Museum hours are: Wednesdays through Sunday, noon to 4:30 p.m.; closed Mondays and Tuesdays.

Area artists will capture the beauty of Bedford Springs resort, Old Bedford Village, Shawnee State Park, the Bedford Fairgrounds and downtown sites during three-day plein air painting, sale and art celebration Aug. 29-31.

In collaboration with the historic Omni Bedford Springs Resort & Spa, artists will be painting and visitors can watch and engage with artists as canvases are created.

Artists interested in participating in the En Plein Air Weekend are encouraged to stop by the Museum, contact bedford@sama-art.org or call (814) 589-3020. A $50 non-refundable participation fee is required for artists and participation is limited to 50 entrants. Registered artists and day-of participants will check in at Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art in Bedford at 8 a.m. on Friday, August 29 and receive a packet of information and a map of permitted sites where they can paint, said Site Director Scott Riner.

“Bedford En Plein Air is more than an art event–it’s an invitation to explore and celebrate Bedford as a whole,” said Scott Riner, Site Director of SAMA Bedford. “By guiding visitors through both the resort and the downtown, we’re shining a spotlight on the beauty and character of our community while supporting the artists who bring it to life.”

Cash prizes will be awarded for Best of Show, Award of Excellence, and Honorable Mention. Omni Bedford Springs will offer rooms for artists registered by August 8traveling from outside the area at a discounted rate.

The weekend concludes with a Wet Sale — featuring works created during the weekend — from 1 to 4 p.m. on Aug. 31, held at Omni Bedford Springs. Featuring a cash bar and no admission fee. For details, visit https://www.sama-art.org/event-details/pleinair. Guests are also invited to cap off the event with an exclusive Chef’s Table dining experience on Sunday evening. See omnihotels.com/hotels/bedford-springs/dining/dining-events for more information.