FAYETTEVILLE -- The municipal Airport Board is floating the idea of having a hot air balloon festival next year.
Three board members have formed a task force of sorts to work out the logistics and costs associated with such an event. The board on Thursday gave the green light to explore the possibilities.
The history of the hot air balloon
Scientist Jean-Francois Pilatre De Rozier is believed to have launched the first hot air balloon on Sept. 19, 1783. The balloon was called Aerostat Reveillon and was manufactured by two French brothers named Joseph and Etienne Montgolfier. The passengers were a sheep, a duck and a rooster, and the balloon stayed in the air for 15 minutes before crashing back to the ground.
Source: Introduction to Aviation by Fred Mabonga
"This is extremely preliminary," said Summer Fallen, municipal airport director.
The team envisions 20 balloons floating above Drake Field, with associated competitions and activities to attract families and out-of-towners. It could be held in early May, although that's one of many aspects yet to be figured out, said Lizzie Johnson, one of the board members behind the idea. Zane Chenault and Paul Algee also have signed on.
An early projection puts the cost of the festival at $50,000. Private sponsorships and donations would be needed, with some sort of buy-in, hopefully, from the city, Johnson said. The city owns and operates the municipal airport.
"One of our goals is to bring a little bit more visibility to Drake Field," she said. "We think that people can sometimes, in the midst of things, forget that they're down there and that they're part of the city of Fayetteville and they offer a service for Northwest Arkansas."
The airport is no stranger to hosting events. NWA Fashion Week had its fall showcase at a hangar in November. The Iron Pig Festival -- consisting of a duathlon, 5K run, 1-mile fun run and bike time trial -- happened March 31.
"From an airport standpoint, I think it would be great for the public, and I think it would be great for our airport if we can work all the details of the event out," Fallen said. "We're always open to having the public at the airport to spark the interest in aviation."
The Harrison Regional Chamber of Commerce hosts a similar event in the fall. Every year, about 8,000 people come to see or ride in the brightly colored air vessels floating over the Ozark Mountains, said Patty Methvin, chamber president.
The three-day event in September involves races, competitions, tethered rides, pony rides, music, food and vendors. The chamber usually breaks even when hosting the event, and drawing all kinds of people to the town is worth it, Methvin said.
"There are kids everywhere, and there are free games and balloons going up and down and all that kind of stuff," she said. "It's a pretty cool weekend, I'm telling you."
Bentonville used to host the Ozark Balloon Fest, which wrapped up about a decade ago after experiences with unexpected weather.
The Fayetteville team plans to reach out to organizers of past balloon festivals to learn more about the ins and outs, Johnson said.
"We feel like this appeals to a wide demographic and fits in with the arts culture we're trying to build in Northwest Arkansas," she said. "I thought, 'We're going to have people show up just to take pictures for Instagram because it'll be pretty.'"
The mayor has to sign off on all special event permits after going through internal checkpoints of police, fire and logistics. City money can only be used for something that addresses a public purpose.
Molly Rawn, director of the city's tourism bureau Experience Fayetteville, said the idea has potential.
"I have not heard anything about a hot air balloon festival, but it certainly sounds intriguing," she said. "I know there are other cities who have produced such events successfully, and I welcome the opportunity to learn more."
NW News on 04/28/2018