Balloon Festival Takes to Air - SuffolkJournal.com

Balloon Festival Becoming an
Annual Favorite Family Event

August 13, 2001

Up to 50 colorful hot air balloons will fill the summer skies twice daily at Brookhaven-Calabro Airport in Shirley as part of the 4th annual Waldbaum’s Balloon and Music Festival. The three-day long festival for the entire family which will be held August 17, 18 and 19, rain or shine is also sponsored by Keyspan.

“TOURNAMENT OF TRADES” OLD FASHIONED
PRO-AM SIT-DOWN ARM WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIP
Spectators are invited to watch the pros compete in the “Tournament of Trades” Old Fashioned PRO-AM Sit-Down Arm Wrestling Championships Sunday, on the Main Stage. Men’s and women’s competitions are scheduled with a “Right-Hand Strong Arm of the Show MVP” crowned. An all amateur public participation exhibition will follow. The 24-year-old New York Arm Wrestling Association will supervise the” Tournament of Trades” Championship.

Special balloon shapes such as the giant Waldbaum’s Shopping Bag, KeySpan Polar Bear, 160’ Energizer Bunny and Tony the Tiger will take flight Friday evening at 6:30 pm and on Saturday and Sunday at both 6:30 am and 6:30 pm, weather permitting.

After a difficult start four years ago, when weather did not cooperate and there was little else to do other than watch balloonist inflate the large craft, the festival was aken over by it’s current organizers. While there is still a question of whether or not the “weather” will cooperate so that the balloon’s can actually launch, the festival itself has enough to keep everyone entertained during the rest of the day and evening. So if you’re not the early-morning type, able to get out there in time to wath a dawn lift off, you can still spend the day watching the other shows until the sunset flights are being readied. Click here to see full schedule of events.

The evening concerts have become almost a popular as the balloons themselves. This year’s musical line-up of Jethro Tull, the Doobie Brothers, and summer concert bash on Sunday is selling out.

But there’s a lot more going on besides the colorful and exciting inflating and launching of the huge balloons. Several stage and activity areas have non-stop shows, booths, arts and crafts throughout the day. A short list includes puppet shows, jugglers, magic, fitness, arm wrestling, and a gymnastics and high dive show.

Keyspan Brings Ballooning to Hospitalized Kids
On August 14^th at 10:30 a.m., a licensed hot air balloon pilot will inflate and tether a 10 story hot air balloon on the grounds of Schneider's Children's Hospital, as he teaches the children about the science and history of hot air ballooning. As part of the Waldbaum's Balloon & Music Festival Educational Outreach by Keyspan, the program has been developed to excite and engage children by creating a unique, first-hand opportunity to experience the magic of hot air balloons. Many of the children have never seen a hot air balloon up close.