Valparaiso Noon Kiwanis Club 2011 Hot Air BalloonFest
9/9/11 and 9/10/11
The Valparaiso Noon Kiwanis Club will conduct our 21st annual Kiwanis Hot Air BalloonFest at the Porter County Fairgrounds in Valparaiso, Indiana this September. Our 90 year old Kiwanis Club of 200 members has been using funds generated from the BalloonFest to support sponsored youth clubs (Key, Builders, K-kids, and AKtion) and other club projects that benefit the children of our community and of the world. We are anxiously looking forward to this year’s balloon launches during the evenings of September 9 and 10. Over 20 colorful, enormous hot air balloons are expected at this year’s event. Nothing is more beautiful than to see these multicolored balloons ascend into the sky at dusk. This year, if wind conditions permit, we will do an exciting balloon fly-in.
Another popular event of the BalloonFest is the Night Glow. Following each evening’s launch the balloons return to the festival to conduct a Night Glow. At this event, the balloons are tethered to the ground and they use their propane heaters to light up the multicolored balloons synchronized to music. It is one of the most fascinating sites imaginable. Tethered balloon rides will be available throughout the event at a nominal cost.
Food vendors will be present to entice the taste buds, musical entertainment is also on the agenda, there are amusements for kids, tethered Hot Air Balloon rides, and our Key Clubs participate with a face painting booth and by selling pins and tee shirts. Entrance fees are $10 per carload. It is a family-friendly, smoke-free event for the young and old.
