Hot air balloon festival is going to be a blast

by JILL MAHON

Enterprise reporter

Under the careful planning of the Wellington Area Chamber of Commerce in conjunction with the Lorain County Office on Aging Southern Satellite office, local hot air balloonists are preparing to take to the skies in a spectacular display for the first ever Wellington Hot Air Balloon Fest.

The event, which will take place on Friday, June 20 on the American Legion grounds at 518 S. Main St., was inspired by an annual balloon launch of massive proportions in Albuquerque, N.M. Chamber representative Howard Reynolds and Wellington Township trustee Calvin Woods have attended the Albuquerque launch numerous times and were completely drawn in by the 10-day spectacle, which includes more than 750 balloons, 1,200 pilots and brings in tens of millions of dollars for the town.

"It's a year-round operation for them," Reynolds said. "As soon as one year is done they start scheduling for the next year."

Another unique feature of the area is the wind flow. It is the only place in the nation, Reynolds said, that allows pilots to completely box around or drop down to travel north and then rise back up again to go south.

Reynolds has worked on more than a hundred balloon flights as a crew member since 1992.

Although he has no immediate plans to become a pilot he is quite familiar with the licensing process which is extensive, but necessary to ensure safe flights.

"Pilots have to have a certain amount of training under a commercial licensed pilot before going for their student's pilot license with an FAA inspector and examiner," he said. "Once they get their student's license they're required to fly a number of hours to receive their pilot's license."

The Wellington festival will feature 11 balloons, nine of which will line up at dusk for a beautiful balloon glow after dark.

Balloon meister Greg Miller from the Northeast Ohio Balloon Pilots Association conducted a safety seminar for the Wellington Fire District and South Lorain County Ambulance District last week to help prepare the emergency personnel. Pilots will get a briefing on what the conditions are for the area from airport weather towers before the launch begins. However, if weather does not cooperate Reynolds said there are certain things pilots should watch out for that could delay their flight, namely high temperatures, winds above 12 miles per hour and any thunderstorms in a 50 to 100 mile radius whose advanced winds could play havoc with the balloons. A rain date is scheduled for the following evening of June 21 at 7 p.m.

Residents are encouraged to bring their blankets, chairs and cameras and come enjoy the show along with games, face painting, balloon sculpture, clowns and a 50/50 raffle. The evening's events will begin with dinner at 5 p.m. followed by a performance from the Southern Star Band at 6 and the balloon launch at 6:30. Para-gliders will take flight at 7 p.m., after which The Four Lads will entertain the crowd at 8 before the 9:30 balloon glow. There is no admittance charge for any of the festivities except for dinner and The Four Lads concert.