WELLSVILLE, N.Y. — A popular Wellsville event has something extra special to celebrate this year.
The Great Balloon Rally, which draws in roughly 15,000 individuals to each launch during the three-day event at Island Park, is celebrating its 40th anniversary.
“The committee has worked very hard this past year to ensure this will be a fun activity,” said event chairman Brad Thompson. “We’re very excited to host this 40th anniversary celebration, and we’re thankful for the community’s strong support toward this event each and every year.”
To honor this milestone occasion, two special hot-air balloons will take flight along with the 30-plus others expected to be in this year’s rally, which is taking place today through Sunday at Island Park.
“We’re flying in a 40th birthday cake. It’s a balloon cake and we’re bringing in the clowns — a clown balloon, that is — to the celebration,” Thompson said.
In addition to the celebratory balloons, Brian Megee will introduce his new ride, a black and yellow hot-air balloon. The rally will also feature old favors brought in by Bill Childs, Vicki Ketchner and Chan Whitford.
The balloons will launch twice — 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. — all three days, the chairman said, noting this an extension to the traditional rally.
“Since this is a special anniversary year, we figured we’d extend the rally by adding a 6 p.m. launch on Sunday,” Thompson said. “We hope a lot of people will come out for the final launch. Actually, we’d like to see a big crowd at all the launches.”
Similar to last year, spectators will have the opportunity to get an up-close-and-personal view of some of the balloons. Last year, the Federal Aviation Administration lifted its ban on restricting where attendees could stand during the event, so two of the three fields will be open for the purpose of allowing guests to approach the balloons and interact with the pilots, Thompson said, adding some pilots may provide tethered rides for a fee.
“It’s completely up to the pilot if they want to provide a tethered ride,” the chairman said.
Aside from viewing and possibly riding the colorful and fun-shaped balloons, guests will be able to purchase food and/or novelty items from the rally’s 28 vendors.
“It’s just an all-around fun time … I can’t tell you what makes this event so special, but it’s been going strong for quite a while,” Thompson said. “There’s just something special about watching a balloon — be it a helium or hot-air balloon — float through the sky. People have to experience this event for themselves to understand how amazing the sight is to see. It’s majestic.”
Thompson reminds all individuals that with exception to a couple of handicap parking spaces there is no parking available at Island Park during the Rally. He suggests attendees park at one of the Rally-designated parking areas: Kmart in the Riverwalk Plaza; Save-A-Lot, 420 Bolivar Road; and Northern Lights’ parking lots. Shuttle buses from those sites to the park will run continuously with pickup and return every 20 minutes.
Thompson also reminds those who plan to attend the event to keep an eye on the weather as the Balloon Rally is completely dependent on Mother Nature providing ideal weather conditions.
If thundershowers occur within an 80-mile radius, the balloons don’t go into the air. Wind is also a factor, he said, explaining if wind gusts are more than 5 mph or if there is an extended windshear — change in wind direction and speed — it could create a potentially dangerous situation for the pilots, the chairman said.
“The main thing is to protect the balloonist, their crews and the spectators,” Thompson said, adding attendees should stick around for Friday’s Afterglow. During that time, each balloon is stationed on the ground with its flame blowers and lights activated to create a glow in the park.
“The aura the balloons create is amazing to see,” Thompson said. “People come by the thousands to see it.”
The Rally will also present a fireworks display at 9:45 p.m. Saturday. Thompson encourages guests to bring their lawn chairs and cameras to the weekend’s activities.
For additional information about the Balloon Rally, visit the website at www.wellsvilleballoonrally.com.
