Print
E-mail
Comment
Rate
Balloon over the Mississippi starts Friday
By Joe Benedict /MVM NEWS NETWORK
FORT MADISON - Balloons over the Mississippi had humble beginnings with five balloons and a bouncy house five years ago. On Saturday and Sunday the event returns to Fort Madison with an opportunity for everyone to see how it has grown up in the past few years.
Along with the scheduled 20 balloons to be at the event, there also are several new features to be showcased over the weekend at Scenic Drive in Rodeo Park. Admission is free to the park and there will be some free musical entertainment as well.
One new feature this year is going to be a pancake breakfast operated by Boy Scout Troop 39. The breakfast will begin at 6:30 a.m. Saturday at the park. The troop will dish out pancakes until about 9:30 or until the food runs out. The troop will use the money earned from the breakfast toward merit badges and camping supplies.
The pancake breakfast also corresponds with a morning event for balloonists. A balloon fly-in begins that morning at 6:30 a.m. One event organizer, Nanette Griffin, says this will be a good opportunity for the public to watch the balloonists race to a large target on the soccer field at Rodeo Park. The balloonists drop a three ounce beanbag with a 12-foot tail from their balloons onto the target, a florescent X with 25-foot arms, and are scored on accuracy.
Griffin said the balloon pilots go over a lot of variables including wind speed and temperature to decide where to launch from to go for the target. She said it isn't unusual for someone in the country to get a knock on the door at 6 a.m. seeking permission to launch from the property.
Gee Willie Entertainment will provide several new activities for children age three and up. The usual bounce house will be joined by the adrenaline rush obstacle course, Jurassic playland adventure, bungee run, giant slide and a mechanical bull.
The United Way is selling armbands for the Gee Willie attractions as a fundraiser. The two-day wrist bands offer unlimited turns on the inflatable activities, except for the mechanical bull. Anyone interested in a wrist band can contact the United Way or Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Balloons over the Mississippi is growing. It's estimated that about 7,000 people visited last year. That's a lot of people and parking can become an issue. Griffin said to alleviate the parking strain, shuttle buses will be running from the parking area south of Richardson Arena to Scenic Drive. The buses will operate from 3:30 p.m. to midnight on Friday and from 6:30 a.m. to noon Saturday and again Saturday night.
No general parking will be allowed on Airport Road this year for the safety of participants and visitors.
One of the most popular parts of weekend is the nightly balloon glow. Friday's glow is sponsored by Servicemaster of Fort Madison and will begin at 8:30 p.m. The Saturday glow is also at 8:30 p.m. and is sponsored by Scholl Real Estate. The balloons are illuminated during the glows and the balloonists can create different patterns to put on a show. People are able to talk with balloon pilots at this time as well. After the Saturday glow, there will be another new event with fireworks.
Even though balloon rides aren't offered to the public, everyone will have a chance to get in the air in an airplane with rides being offered at the Fort Madison Airport. Some little airplanes also will be flying around with a model airplane show from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday.
There also will be free musical entertainment both nights. Friday and Saturday night music begins in the beer tent with the Second Skinny Blues band at 5:15 p.m. On Friday at 6:30 p.m. locals the Gibbs Brothers play their unplugged show, with Wild Wild West following with country music from 9:30-11:30 p.m.
Saturday the Jefferson County Green Band will play from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. with classic rock band Alter Ego entertaining at 9:30 p.m.
There will be food vendors available at the park, including the Fort Madison High School band selling food as a fundraiser. There also will be craft vendors. Festival organizers said flights and glows are weather permitting and coolers will not be allowed to be brought into the park. Other than that, everyone is encouraged to bring a lawn chair and enjoy all the free festival has to offer.
Along with the scheduled 20 balloons to be at the event, there also are several new features to be showcased over the weekend at Scenic Drive in Rodeo Park. Admission is free to the park and there will be some free musical entertainment as well.
One new feature this year is going to be a pancake breakfast operated by Boy Scout Troop 39. The breakfast will begin at 6:30 a.m. Saturday at the park. The troop will dish out pancakes until about 9:30 or until the food runs out. The troop will use the money earned from the breakfast toward merit badges and camping supplies.
The pancake breakfast also corresponds with a morning event for balloonists. A balloon fly-in begins that morning at 6:30 a.m. One event organizer, Nanette Griffin, says this will be a good opportunity for the public to watch the balloonists race to a large target on the soccer field at Rodeo Park. The balloonists drop a three ounce beanbag with a 12-foot tail from their balloons onto the target, a florescent X with 25-foot arms, and are scored on accuracy.
Griffin said the balloon pilots go over a lot of variables including wind speed and temperature to decide where to launch from to go for the target. She said it isn't unusual for someone in the country to get a knock on the door at 6 a.m. seeking permission to launch from the property.
Gee Willie Entertainment will provide several new activities for children age three and up. The usual bounce house will be joined by the adrenaline rush obstacle course, Jurassic playland adventure, bungee run, giant slide and a mechanical bull.
ADVERTISEMENT |
Balloons over the Mississippi is growing. It's estimated that about 7,000 people visited last year. That's a lot of people and parking can become an issue. Griffin said to alleviate the parking strain, shuttle buses will be running from the parking area south of Richardson Arena to Scenic Drive. The buses will operate from 3:30 p.m. to midnight on Friday and from 6:30 a.m. to noon Saturday and again Saturday night.
No general parking will be allowed on Airport Road this year for the safety of participants and visitors.
One of the most popular parts of weekend is the nightly balloon glow. Friday's glow is sponsored by Servicemaster of Fort Madison and will begin at 8:30 p.m. The Saturday glow is also at 8:30 p.m. and is sponsored by Scholl Real Estate. The balloons are illuminated during the glows and the balloonists can create different patterns to put on a show. People are able to talk with balloon pilots at this time as well. After the Saturday glow, there will be another new event with fireworks.
Even though balloon rides aren't offered to the public, everyone will have a chance to get in the air in an airplane with rides being offered at the Fort Madison Airport. Some little airplanes also will be flying around with a model airplane show from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday.
There also will be free musical entertainment both nights. Friday and Saturday night music begins in the beer tent with the Second Skinny Blues band at 5:15 p.m. On Friday at 6:30 p.m. locals the Gibbs Brothers play their unplugged show, with Wild Wild West following with country music from 9:30-11:30 p.m.
Saturday the Jefferson County Green Band will play from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. with classic rock band Alter Ego entertaining at 9:30 p.m.
There will be food vendors available at the park, including the Fort Madison High School band selling food as a fundraiser. There also will be craft vendors. Festival organizers said flights and glows are weather permitting and coolers will not be allowed to be brought into the park. Other than that, everyone is encouraged to bring a lawn chair and enjoy all the free festival has to offer.
 |
 |
|
| Budget impasse continues | Hancock County Fair this week in Carthage, Ill. |
Reader Comments
| Please log in or create an account by filling out the form on the right. | |
