A Walnutport balloon artist teamed up recently with 80 of her contemporaries from around the world to create a breathtaking balloon Christmas wonderland.

Balloons by Robin, owned by local balloon artist Robin Zamadics, partook in the Big Balloon Build held from Nov. 16-21 in the heart of Indiana, Pennsylvania.

“It was an amazing week,” Zamadics said.

The unique collaboration brought together balloon artists from diverse locations to replicate a hometown feel, showcasing iconic town buildings and landmarks through colorful, inflatable art.

The display included inflatable versions of the town hall, cinema, post office, train station, coal mines, tree farms, local farms and a covered bridge, each intricately crafted to capture the essence of Indiana.

A flower cart was added to the balloon village in honor of the host who invited the Big Build to her quaint town.

The build enabled the artist to work together in 12 different teams to bring the vision to life.

The monumental build took three days to complete, with each individual contributing their skills to create the magical display.

On Nov. 20, the completed balloon village was officially turned over to the United Way of Indiana County during a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The United Way opened the display to the public as a fundraiser for the local town throughout the weekend.

The exhibit was met with excitement as families and visitors gathered to enjoy the colorful spectacle and contribute to the community.

In addition to the display, builders created over 80 life-size costumes, which were worn in Indiana’s renowned “It’s a Wonderful Life Christmas” parade. The parade, a long-standing town tradition, celebrates the holiday season and draws thousands of spectators each year.

Costumes were also made for a local Indiana dance studio, adding to the festive spirit of the event.

As a special touch, each balloon builder hung ornaments from their local areas on the community’s town tree, bringing together people from around the world to celebrate Indiana’s hometown pride.

The weeklong event was not only a creative endeavor, but also a powerful reminder of the town’s close-knit community spirit and its connection to the actor and serviceman Jimmy Stewart, who called Indiana home.

Zamadics said the event helped raise over $150,000.

“The experience of meeting and working with so many talented people from all over was absolutely unforgettable,” she said.

“We truly created something special for the community, and I’m so proud of what we accomplished. Being part of such a large-scale event, learning and collaborating, and seeing our work bring joy to so many people was an incredible honor.”

Balloons by Robin specializes in custom balloon decorations, from twisting balloon animals at events to creating elaborate balloon arrangements for special occasions.