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BALLOON CLASSIC
INVITATIONAL/
JACKSON-BELDEN FOOD FEST & FIREWORKS
The
Balloon Classic Invitational is a
fantastic family event that began in
1984 and was enhanced in 1995 when the
event merged with the Jackson-Belden
Food Fest & Fireworks.
The
first Balloon Classic featured just a
handful of hot air balloons and has
grown so extensively that more than 70
balloons participated in the 24th
anniversary event this year. Extra
excitement was generated by special
shape balloons such as "Piggles" the
piggy bank, "Touchdown"
an enormous flying football, "Bud E.
Beaver"
and "The American Rocketship" .
Pilots participate in team racing and
target drops as they vie for a prize
package of $19,000. An awesome
spectacle is the pole grab where
pilots guided their balloons as close as
possible to the designated pole in an
attempt to grab the ribbon, a feat worth
$3,000 and other great prizes.
Unfortunately, no one was lucky enough
to win in 2008, but hopefully we'll have
a winner this year!
After
the sun sets on Friday night, a special
show began with the spectacular balloon
glow. Twenty balloons tethered on
the ground and fill their balloon
envelopes with propane so they glow brightly in the
night sky while choreographed to music. On Saturday night, the balloon
flight is followed by the fabulous
Jackson-Belden Fireworks show, also
musically choreographed and was a
delight for people of all ages.
"2009 Dawn Patrol"
An activity pilots refer to as “The Dawn
Patrol” was added to the HOFEF
Balloon Classic in 2008. It involved
pilots taking off in the dark and flying
until it was light enough to land. The participating balloons are
equipped with position lights to make
the balloons visible at all times to
other aircraft. When the balloons burn,
they
illuminate
the night sky just as
they do for the evening Glow. The
balloons create a very strange
appearance in the night sky especially
to those on the ground never having
experienced this show in the past.
If you are an early riser, you won't
want to miss this!
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