Balloonfest

A couple weeks ago, just as it had started to cool down, N and some friends and I went to this hot air balloon festival nearby.

We were particularly amused by the kid hanging off the shoelace of the shoe.

Can someone tell me what on earth this thing is??? We were guessing some kind of bug, but if you look too long and hard it's...really fucking creepy. And what is that yellow thing protruding from its face?!? Why is it only on one side? Why does it have one gold tooth? Whose idea was it to include this balloon in an event where there would be small children and easily-freaked-out adults?! So many questions.
We were just beginning griping about how it had been a little disappointing (because none of the balloons were rising, and all the lines for short 2-minute rides and any of the food were insane), and then they started lighting the balloons up in this brilliant display!

Made the whole excursion seem cooler and better! And one day I will have saved up the money to ride in one...