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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 will participate in the 22nd
anniversary event in 2007. Extra
excitement will be generated by special
shape balloons such as "Piggles" the
piggy bank, "Touchdown"
an enormous flying football, "Sushi"
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 in which
pilots guide 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.
After
the sun sets Friday night, a special show
begins with the spectacular balloon
glow. The balloons tether on the ground
and fill their balloon envelopes with
propane so they glow brightly in the
night, in a musically choreographed
program. On Saturday night, the balloon
flight is followed by the fabulous
Jackson-Belden Fireworks show, also
musically choreographed and sure to
delight people of all ages.
On both Friday and
Saturday evenings, in addition to the
hot air balloons, be sure to enjoy the
Jackson-Belden Food Fest, which provides
a wide variety of tempting treats,
children’s area, and musical
entertainment.
New for
2008 "Dawn Patrol"
An activity pilots refer to as “The
Dawn Patrol” has been added to the HOFEF
Balloon Classic in 2008. It involves
pilots taking off in the dark and flying
until it is light enough to see landing
sites. The participating balloons are
equipped with position lights to make
the balloons visible at all times to
other aircraft. When the balloons burn,
they eliminate 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.
Fellow balloonists appreciate the Dawn
Patrol because they can watch the
balloons and get an early idea of wind
speeds and directions at different
altitudes. During the Media Flight
activities scheduled for Friday, July 25
about a half dozen Dawn Patrol balloons
will be performing the Dawn Patrol Show.
Dawn Patrol inflations begin, weather
permitting, at about 5:00 AM, with
launch around 5:30 AM.
For a You Tube clip of this event at
the Reno race follow this link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bM6z46zw0KI
Be sure
to have your camera ready all weekend to
take photos for entry in the Pro
Football Hall of Fame Festival Photo
Contest.
Click here for more details!!
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