Old West Balloon Fest

Old West Balloon Fest Star-Herald/Gering COURIER

September 2016

Schedule of events

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Frequently asked questions 3 Concerts

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2-Tall prepares for final launch 8 Humpty Dumpty takes flight 10 Night Glow 14

STEVE FREDERICK/STAR-HERALD

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Star-Herald Gering COURIER

Old West Balloon Fest Old West Balloon Fest schedule of events September 2016

“Come touch the sky” and experience Scotts Bluff County from the ground up at the 2016 Old West Balloon Fest Labor Day Weekend. A must attend, three-day, premier hot air balloon event.

The 2016 Old West Balloon Fest Schedule of Events is as follows; sunrise launches are “weather permitting”:

Friday, Sept. 2

6 p.m. Gates open at Five Rocks Amphitheater for Rodney Atkins Concert Event 6 p.m.-11:59 p.m. Food and Beverage services provided by Weborg 21 Centre 6:30 p.m. Open Act The Shane Rogers Band takes the stage 7:45 p.m. Aaron Copeland on stage 9:30 p.m. Headliner Rodney Atkins in Concert

Saturday, Sept. 3

5:30 a.m. Gates open at the launch site; Mitchell Air Field – FREE Admission & Parking 5:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. Breakfast vendors and kids zone events on site at launch field

Approximately 7 a.m.Sunrise Balloon Launch; at or after 7 a.m., weather permitting 6 p.m. Gates open at Five Rocks Amphitheater for Lita Ford-Great White-Winger 6 p.m.-11:59 p.m. Food and beverage services provided by OWBF & Kelly’s Liquor 6:30 p.m. Opening Act Winger takes the stage 7:45 p.m. Jack Russell’s Great White on stage 9:30 p.m. Lita Ford in concert

Approximately 7 a.m.

Sunrise Balloon Launch; at or after 7 a.m., weather permitting

5:30 a.m. Gates open at the launch site; Mitchell Air Field – FREE Admission & Parking 5:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. Breakfast vendors and kids zone events on site at launch field

For details on events, schedules, ticket information and entertainment visit

5 p.m. Night Glow Closing Ceremony Festival at Western Nebraska Regional Airport Food vendors, kid’s zone and live entertainment Dusk Balloons will glow for one hour; weather permitting

Sunday, Sept. 4

STEVE FREDERICK/STAR-HERALD

www.oldwestballoon fest.com

Old West Balloon Fest

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September 2016

Old West Balloon Fest – Frequently asked questions The following are some of the most frequently asked questions about the Old West Balloon Fest:

What are the dates of the Festival events?

Sunrise Balloon Launches – Sept. 3 & 4, 2016 (Saturday & Sunday); weather permitting Evening Concerts at Five Rocks Amphitheater – Sept. 2 & 3, 2016 (Friday & Saturday) Night Glow & Closing Ceremonies – Sept. 4, 2016 (Sunday)

Where does the Festival take place?

Sunrise Balloon Launches at the Mitchell Airfield – 171 South 20 Road – weather permitting Concerts at Five Rocks

BRAD STAMAN/GERING COURIER

Ryder Ross shows his mom, Jeri Ross, the different balloons in the program during last year’s Old West Balloon Fest.

Amphitheater - 2505 D Street in Gering Sunday’s Night Balloon Glow & Closing Ceremonies – Western Ne-

braska Regional Airport in Scottsbluff

What are the driving instructions to the launch site?

There are two major entrances to the launch site this year.

Directions, Coming from Gering: Take Old Oregon Trail Road to Highway 92 Head West toward Mitchell South Road Turn North on Mitchell South Road and follow the large digital sign to launch site one on right hand side.

Anyone taking this route will use the South Parking Lot labeled Lot B. Directions, Coming from Scottsbluff: Take Highway 26 West to Mitchell Turn Left on to 19th Avenue and follow the large digital signs to launch site (approximately 2.5 miles

Proud Sponsor... of the 2016 Old West Balloon Fest!

south). Anyone taking this route will use the North Parking Lot labeled Lot A.

What services will be available at the launch site?

Lots of Port-a-Potties; approximately 25 seats will be available at the launch field Food vendors; including beverages and breakfast items Merchandise vendors; Old West Balloon Fest t-shirts and posters Old West Balloon Fest events are CASH ONLY for food, beverages, merchandise, etc.

NO private drones will be allowed at the launch site or see QUESTIONS

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September 2016

Old West Balloon Fest

Star-Herald Gering COURIER

Balloon Fest expansion extends fun over several days IRENE NORTH Star-Herald Organizers of the Old West Balloon Festival have been hard at work preparing for the festival. Armed with feedback and new ideas, organizers hope the event will be bigger and better than last year.

The festival committee have planned the event over several days to give visitors and local residents multiple fun experiences over the Labor Day weekend.

The most important change to the event from last year is parking. Organizers didn’t expect the thousands of people who turned out to the event.

To accommodate the numbers this year, another road has been added into the launch site and there will be two parking lots. Parking lot A will be for people who come from the direction of Mitchell and parking lot B will be for those who come in from Scottsbluff on the back roads.

Admission will be free and there will be no charge for the parking, something that held lines up last year.

Traffic signage donated by the city of Scottsbluff will also give information about the event.

“Another thing new is we are sponsored

by KNEB on 94.1 this year and they will have the official traffic and weather reports,” said Becky Horne, cochairman. Aulick Air will also have a live

IRENE NORTH/STAR-HERALD

A balloon flies over fields during last year’s Old West Balloon Fest.

feed to the website so they can see live traffic patterns.”

There will also be handicapped parking

available and a gator shuttle system for anyone who is handicapped, has a hard time walking or needs

assistance.

“You just need to let attendants know you need a ride from parking to the site,” she

said.

Another big change from last year is the number of places to use the restroom at the site.

“We have every porta-pottie reserved we could find in the Panhandle,” she said.

The balloon launches will be held on Saturday and Sunday, both from the Mitchell Air Field. Weather pending, organizers are hoping the balloons will be able to lift off at 6:30 a.m., or 7:30 a.m.

“Last year, the weather patterns were off,” Horne said. “It could happen that way again, but they might also go up as soon as 6:30 a.m.”

Organizers are also

encouraging people to participate with the chase of balloons.

Horne said it takes about six people to pack a balloon back in a car and pilots are happy to have extra help.

Feedback from sponsors last year included the request to have the Gering-ScottsbluffMitchell communities all involved in the event.

“We wanted to make sure each community had something,” Horne said. “And we wanted people to scatter through all the communities and see what there is to offer.” see EXPANSION

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Old West Balloon Fest

Star-Herald Gering COURIER

September 2016

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Sam & Louie’s to host fundraiser to benefit Old West Balloon Fest

In advance of the Sept. 2-4 Festival, area residents and their families are invited to enjoy a great dinner and some family fun to benefit Old West Balloon Fest.

Sam & Louie’s Restaurant in Scottsbluff will hold a special “Old West Balloon Fest Fundraising Night” on Tuesday, Aug. 30, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sam & Louie’s, located at 1522 Broadway in Downtown Scottsbluff, will donate 15 percent of their sales for those three hours to Old West Balloon Fest.

“It is easy to contribute.

All you have to do is dine in or carry out and 15 percent will automatically go to the Old West Balloon Fest,” said Melissa Schneider, owner of

Sam & Louie’s. “We are honored to help support this terrific event in our community.

We hope to see it become a tradition for years to come.”

“The Old West Balloon Fest committee will sponsor kid’s crafts and games on Aug. 30 and the special Night Glow Passports will be on sale,” stated Becky Horne, CoChairman of Old West Balloon Fest. “The excitement on the faces of kids at the Balloon Festival are some of the most rewarding aspects of the event. We encourage families to attend the fundraiser at Sam & Louie’s; like Kaitlyn Kizzire, age 10 of Scottsbluff (see attached color drawing), they can have fun doing the crafts and

be part of the success of this community-wide event.”

For the complete schedule of events for Old West Balloon Fest; visit www.oldwestballoonfest.com

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September 2016

Old West Balloon Fest

Star-Herald Gering COURIER

Concerts offer Country on Friday, AARON SEANEY Star-Herald This year’s balloon fest is shaping up to be even bigger and better than last year’s highly successful event in all areas.

While the day time will be filled with hot air balloons taking to the sky, events are now stretching beyond Mitchell and will see events in both Scottsbluff and Gering, including two big concerts on Friday and Saturday night presented by Bluffs Broadcasting.

On Friday night the

COURTESY PHOTO

Rodney Atkins will perform Friday night at Five Rocks for this year’s OWBF.

music kicks off with country star Rodney Atkins at Five Rocks Amphitheatre in Gering.

Atkins is a veteran in the country music scene but still has 11 hit songs that play on country radio stations across the country.

“When I was first contacted about him coming out I’ll admit I wasn’t super excited,” said station director Nate Christopher.

“Then I got back to the office and saw that he had so many hits that we were playing on our station. Once I saw the laundry list of amazing

songs this guy had it got me really excited.”

Atkins’ hits include “If You’re Going Through Hell,” “The Farmer’s Daughter,” and “Take a Back Road.”

After Atkins on Friday night, Bluffs Broadcasting looks to bring back the classic rock on Saturday night with Lita Ford, Jack Russel’s Great White and Kip Winger.

Lita Ford had many hits in the ‘80s and ‘90s but she is perhaps best known for her synth heavy hit “Kiss Me Deadly.”

Great White was in

Old West Balloon Fest

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September 2016

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Rock‘n Roll on Saturday the same era as Lita Ford and are best known for their chart topping hits “Stick It” and “Once Bitten Twice Shy.” After Great White headlining the show will be classic rock artist Winger who had hits like “Seventeen” and “Easy Come Easy Go.” Christopher said their early summer success with Bret Michaels and Jerrod Neimann made the country and rock combo an easy decision for their first ever twonight event.

“Lita Ford is in the top 10 for female guitarists in the world. I think

both these acts will have cross appeal for many in the community and those visiting the area,” said Christopher.

“Of course even if one doesn’t get your attention you have a great variety to choose from.”

Tickets can be purchased at Bluffs Broadcasting, Steel Grill, Napa Auto Parts and Backaracks.

Cost for tickets are $25 for general admission, $35 for reserved seating for one show.

Combo tickets for both shows are also available for $40 for general admission and $50 for

COURTESY PHOTO

Rock’n Roller Lita Ford will perform Saturday night at Five Rocks during OWBF.

reserved seating.

Christopher said reserved seating will be different for this show.

“If you have reserved tickets you get in 30 minutes early and can set up where ever you want. So if you prefer to sit off to the side in the grass with a lawn chair you will have first pick,” said Christopher. “This gives more choices instead of having to sit on the benches if you’d prefer elsewhere.”

For more information on either show you can visit Bluffs Broadcasting at www.bluffsbroadcasting.com.

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September 2016

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2-Tall prepares for final launch BRAD STAMAN Gering Courier

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fter 26 years of exploring the world from the sky, 2-Tall and Roxie Arnold will be trading in their hot air balloon for a four-wheeler after this year’s Old West Balloon Fest.

When their balloon is packed away after the OWBF, Sept. 2-4, the Arnolds will retire after a memorable ballooning career.

“When I was in grade school I remember my grandpa use to talk about the barnstormers,” 2-Tall said, looking back. Since then, “I’ve always wanted to fly.”

After high school, 2-Tall joined the Air Force, hoping to get a chance to learn to fly.

It didn’t happen. When leaving the military he still wanted to learn to fly but as life kept moving forward the opportunity never became a reality.

“In 1987, a friend bought a raffle ticket for me (winner got a free ride in a hot air balloon),” 2-Tall said. “I won and I was hooked.”

“It became my expensive hobby,” he said with a laugh.

In 1990, while attending a hot balloon pilots safety workshop, he met Roxie. Both were working on their balloon pilot license. They later married.

COURTESY PHOTO

The crew works on 2-Tall and Roxie Arnold’s balloon Sierra. The balloon will make its final flights with the Arnolds as its pilots at this year’s Old West Balloon Fest.

COURTESY PHOTO

2-Tall and Roxie Arnold will look up from the basket as the pilots of Sierra for the final time during the Old West Balloon Fest. The Arnolds will be retiring from ballooning after this year’s festival.

That same year, 2-Tall traveled to western Nebraska to take part, as a student pilot, in the Old West Balloon Fest.

The Arnolds pur-

chased their present balloon in 2002.

“We named it Sierra,” 2-Tall said. “We could not come up with a name so we just took the last digit of the

N number (the FAA registration number) N7420S and that became its name (using the military alphabet).”

“Funny thing is, I’m afraid of heights,” the Cheyenne, Wyoming pilot said. “At 11,000 feet I’m fine, but on my roof, not so good.”

“You get up in the air, the problems you have on the ground seem to disappear,” he said as to why he loves flying. “You get in the air and you are in control.”

The ideal flight, he said, is a box. A box is when you’re able to launch and control your flight so you can fly around then land back at your launch site.

“It is an awesome feeling when you fly a box,” 2-Tall said.

He also enjoys going up, flying for awhile,

landing, switching passengers, launch again, fly for awhile, land, switch again and do it enough times that every crew member gets a chance to fly.

“It’s a good day when the whole crew gets to fly,” 2-Tall said. “Hot air ballooning is all about sharing, sharing your love of flying with others. The more people we can share that with the better.”

This year 2-Tall shared his love of flying with his 600th passenger.

Each flight, he said, is a different experience, new lessons to learn. He records them in his journal.

One entry reads, “Ask the kids to go to the bathroom first.”

On a flight one day, instead of flying himself, a father put his kids in the balloon with 2-Tall. Not long

after getting airborne, the kids had to go to the bathroom. So, they made a potty break landing.

Other entries record sights seen and special experiences, like being the first to ever fly around Devil’s Tower in Wyoming.

“Now, I think they have a (balloon) fest there,” he said.

Roxie was the Balloon Meister for Riverton, Wyoming’s festival for a number of years.

“It is always a big adventure to go to different (balloon) festivals around the country,” 2-Tall said. You meet new people, reconnect with old friends, different crews and explore the country from the sky.

Last year the Arnolds came to the OWBF re-inflated, but because of concerns about the weather they stood Sierra up, but never launched.

“We came back in October and flew,” he said. “It was beautiful.”

As for his name 2-Tall, “I’ve had it for over 30 years,” he said.

“I’m 6 foot, 5 inches tall.”

This year, weather permitting, 2-Tall and Roxie are looking forward to launching Sierra for a few final flights. They will say goodbye to the hobby they have shared for the last 26 years over the western Nebraska sky.

Old West Balloon Fest

Star-Herald Gering COURIER

September 2016

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Looking back at last year’s OWBF Photos by BRAD STAMAN/GERING COURIER and STEVE FREDERICK/STAR-HERALD

Last year’s Old West Balloon Fest created many different photographs. This year will be no different. Visit www.starherald.com and www.geringcourier.com to view the photo galleries from this year’s Old West Balloon Fest.

EXPANSION Gering will be the host of kick-off concerts on Friday and Saturday night at the Five Rocks Amphitheater.

Rodney Atkins will play on Friday night and Lita Ford, Great White and Winger will be playing on Saturday.

Tickets are still available at Bluffs Broadcasting.

The balloon night glow and closing ceremonies will be held at the Western Ne-

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braska Regional Airport in Scottsbluff. The airport was chosen because it had the three elements the organizing committee were looking for - public access, parking and land size. Balloon glow events will be Sunday, Sept.

4. The gates open at 5 p.m., and will have a food fair, kids activities and a kids zone.

“We moved it to Sunday

because we wanted it to be a family friendly event,” Horne said. “Last year, we held it in conjunction with the concert and that’s not for everyone.”

A tribute to law enforcement will be held before the glow begins. Proceeds from accessories and law enforcement t-shirts will be donated to local law enforcement.

“It’s going to be an awe-

some sight,” she said.

There will also be interactive viewing of the balloons at the night glow.

People don’t have to sit in chairs and just view the balloons. They can pick up a passport book for $1, which has a page for each balloon. Pilots will stamp or autograph the page. Law enforcement will also sign autographs.

Programs for the Old West Balloon Fest are available at the Legacy of the Plains Museum in Gering and the Gering Civic Center.

“It has all the information you need,” Horne said.

For more information, contact Brenda Leisy at 308-633-1808, Becky Horne at 308-641-2279 or Karla Niedan-Streeks at 308.436.6886.

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September 2016

Old West Balloon Fest

Star-Herald Gering COURIER

Lawhorn takes Humpty JEFF SMITH Star-Herald

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wenty pilots will be coming to the Old West Balloon Fest this year in Mitchell. Fifteen are returning and five new pilots will be coming this year.

Among those that are returning is Richard Lawhorn of Louisville, Kentucky. He has a special shape hot air balloon that is very recognizable.

It’s a smiling Humpty

Dumpty.

Humpty has hands and legs so it looks as if he is flying across the sky.

Lawhorn has owned the balloon since 1998.

He acquired the balloon after people he knew decided to give it to him since they were going to design another special-shape balloon.

At that time he also traveled around quite a bit for competitions.

He said he usually loads Humpty inside a 15-passenger van with MORGAN WALLACE/GERING COURIER

Rich Lawhorn fills Humpty Dumpty with hot air at last year’s Old West Balloon Fest Night Glow.

a lift gate in the back.

The basket of the balloon is on the lift gate.

The fan is also inside.

He also has his other balloon with him when he comes to the area which he hauls in a trailer.

Lawhorn said the balloons take about 1520 minutes to inflate. It could take 30 minutes if there is wind. The balloons are filled with cold air from the gasdriven inflator fan.

Currently, Lawhorn goes to eight to 12 hot air balloon events in a year. One of the biggest ones that he goes to is the Albuquerque Inter-

national Balloon Festival. He said there will be between 600 and 700 balloons at that event.

Lawhorn has an event that he will go to in Reno, Nevada the weekend after the Old West Balloon Fest.

There will be around 200 hot air balloons at that event.

He got his start flying hot air balloons because of the festival in Albuquerque. Before he was flying balloons he was flying planes due to his job as an airline pilot.

During a weekend layover in Albuquerque he got caught up

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Old West Balloon Fest

September 2016

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Dumpty into flight in the excitement and beauty of the hot air balloons at the festival.

“The noise of all the fans going and blowing up all of the balloons, burners, the gentle giants taking off and drifting away. And I saw how beautiful the site was of all of the balloons,” said Lawson, “I took some lessons and added it to my pilot’s license.”

Lawhorn also knows the balloon meister for the Old West Balloon Fest, Colleen Johnson.

He was invited to take part in the festivities last year by her. He met her at the Snowmass Balloon Festival near Aspen, Colorado where Johnson is also a balloon meister.

He said he had a very good experience at the 2015 Old West Balloon Fest.

“I’m looking forward to being back in Scottsbluff and fly in the area. It’s an interesting area to fly. There’s some areas that are protected from the MORGAN WALLACE/GERING COURIER

Rich Lawhorn fills Humpty Dumpty with hot air at last year’s Old West Balloon Fest Night Glow.

normal surrounding wind patterns,” said Lawhorn.

Lawhorn said that having that protection makes the airfield near Mitchell a nice place to launch from.

He said last year the lines were so long in the morning to see the balloons that the pilots and crews could hardly get to the field.

“I found the folks of Scottsbluff area to be very friendly and apparently very interested in the hot air balloon events,” said Lawson.

Lawhorn tells people to bring their camera

and kids when they come out this year.

“It was overall a very nice town and the organization was very good. They obviously put a lot of effort and a lot of research after bringing it back for however long it was dormant for,” said Lawhorn.

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September 2016

Old West Balloon Fest

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OWBF to honor Sam Foltz with

The first day of the 2016 Old West Balloon Fest will coincide with the first Nebraska Husker game of the season.

Organizers announced that on Sat-

urday morning, during the first sunrise hot air balloon launch, attendees will join all

QUESTIONS night glow venue for the Festival.

NO smoking allowed the launch site; this includes vaps NO parking on the shoulder of the road NO parking on railroad tracks NO parking on pri-

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of Western Nebraska in paying tribute to #27 Sam Foltz. Prior to the launch, attendees can purchase red Husker Balloons printed with Sam’s number 27 for $1 each; the balloons paying

tribute to Nebraska’s punter will be released simultaneously as the hot air balloons launch.

“Sam Foltz was an outstanding athlete whose talents were matched equally by

his amazing spirit and commitment to his team and his state”, commented Brenda Leisy, CoChairman of the Old West Balloon Fest.

“We want to honor Sam and his family

with a red balloon tribute; Balloon Fest attendees will release number 27 balloons that float the skies at the same time our pilots launch”, stated Tom Horne, Co-Chairman of OWBF.

NOT available to the public; balloon rides are for sponsors only.

The sponsors are paying so that the event can be free to the public.

No pets are allowed at the launch site at the Mitchell Airfield or at the Balloon Glow site at Western Nebraska Regional Airport. Pets become very anxious and get agitated by the high pitched sound the balloon burners

make as they inflate and launch. For the safety of attendees and your pets; no pets will be allowed at the event sites.

coolers at the launch site or the Balloon Glow site; however, we strongly discourage people from bringing them. Our goal is to provide nonprofit agencies an opportunity to raise funds and awareness for their programs

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vate property or private driveways NO alcoholic beverages

Are Balloon “rides” available to the general public on Saturday or Sunday morning?

Balloon rides are

Are pets allowed at the launch site or evening glow?

Can I bring a cooler to the launch site or evening glow?

We do not prohibit

Old West Balloon Fest

Star-Herald Gering COURIER

September 2016

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proceeds to help local friends “Our tribute to Sam also allows the Old West Balloon Fest to help local friends and business leaders Linda and Brad Staman, owners of the Daily Grind Coffeehouse in

Gering and Brad is editor of the Gering Courier,” according to Becky Horne, Old West Balloon Fest CoChairman. “Linda is currently undergoing chemotherapy treat-

QUESTIONS

and services. Several of our food vendors are nonprofit agencies. NO alcohol at the launch site. NO COOLERS are allowed brought in at the concert events at Five Rocks Amphitheater in Gering.

Is there an admission to the Festival?

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ments for ovarian cancer. She and Brad will make the long trip to Denver every three weeks for the next several months.”

“All proceeds from the #27 Husker bal-

loons purchased by Balloon Fest attendees will be donated to Linda and Brad to help with travel expenses during Linda’s treatment”, stated Brenda Leisy.

Thanks to the generous sponsors and attendees of the 2016 Old West Balloon Fest,

Can I bring blankets and/or chairs to the Festival?

the balloon launch field and the evening glows at Western Nebraska Regional Airport.

Is there a parking fee at any event venue?

NO, parking is FREE at all the Festival event venues.

YES, designated handicap parking areas will be available at all Festival venues; Mitchell Airfield, Five Rocks Amphitheater and Western Nebraska Regional Airport.

Saturday morning’s red #27 balloon launch will be breathtaking and emotional tribute to our state’s and local heroes.

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NO, admission to the sunrise balloon launches (Saturday & Sunday) and the evening Balloon Glow (Sunday) are free of charge. Concerts at Five Rocks Amphitheater (Friday & Saturday) are ticketed events.

Absolutely, we encourage attendees to bring their own blankets and lawn chairs.

The launch site is grass; so blankets-lawn chairs are great for viewing

Is there Handicap Parking?

Are there free Kids Activities?

There will be FREE

kids activities at the Night Glow on Sunday, Sept. 4, at the Western Nebraska Regional Airport.

Kids can enjoy bounce houses, kite building, entertainment, face painting and tons of family interactive activities.

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September 2016

Old West Balloon Fest

Star-Herald Gering COURIER

Night Glow creates perfect end JEFF SMITH Star-Herald One of the last events for the Old West Balloon Fest is one of the most anticipated.

Hot air balloons will be in front of the Western Nebraska Regional Airport for the Night Glow on Sunday, Sept. 4.

The Night Glow is where hot air balloons will light up the night sky. The pilots will also have more time to show off their balloons and answer questions.

The event just happens for one night.

Gates will open at 5 p.m. on Sunday, Sept.

MORGAN WALLACE/GERING COURIER

Maverick balloon glows alone during last year’s OWBF Night Glow.

4 and there will be a kids’ zone, kite building, vendors and live entertainment prior to the Night Glow. People can see the hot air balloons dazzle the spectators with flames shooting up the balloons starting at dusk. Some will even have special lights.

The balloons will be glowing for about an hour.

“It is free to the public and we have doubled the number of balloons that will be there,” said Brenda Leisy, Old West Balloon Fest co-chairman.

Last year there were

eight balloons and this year there will be 15 participating in the Night Glow.

Leisy said that the main feedback they have gotten for the event is people didn’t want to pay to get in so the main thing is that it will not be associated with the concert and there is also plenty of space at the airport for everything that takes place with the Night Glow.

Leisy said the main reason to have the Night Glow is that it is pretty and the balloons are tied down, which makes it pos-

Old West Balloon Fest

Star-Herald Gering COURIER

September 2016

to the Old West Balloon Fest

sible for the pilots to fire up their burners. It complements the views that people will see at the sunrise launches.

Plus, the balloons will be synchronized to special music.

“Everyone is invited out to take part in a different experience,” said Leisy Leisy thinks the change of location will be good for the Night Glow. She expects more attendance because there will be more space.

“Last year the attendance was a little less,” said Leisy, “At other night glow events it is a bigger deal. That

is why we are rolling the opportunity to out the red carpet this thank officers in peryear, to get more people son for their service out here as well.” and commitment.

T-shirts will also be Leisy said there is no available for $20 that alcohol involved in the are being sold to honor Night Glow and it is a law enforcement. lot of fun for everyone There will also be a in the family. tribute to the law en“There will be some forcement, which will great activities for take place at 7 p.m. kids. It is a great famThey will also be ily environment,” said selling royal blue glow Leisy. accessories for $1 a The event is also piece. The funds from considered the closing these will be donated ceremonies. The Night to Crime Stoppers and Glow wraps up around WING. 9 p.m. on Sept. 4.

The goal is to get MORGAN WALLACE /GERING COURIER people to see that law Pilots and their crews fill enforcement are great their balloon for last year’s people.

Night Glow.

Attendees will have

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September 2016

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