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Nebraska Balloon and Wine Festival
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Nebraska Balloon and Wine Festival
August 13-14, 2010
Balloons launch Friday and Saturday Evening 7 PM
The Fourth Annual Nebraska Balloon and Wine Festival will be held on Friday, August 13 and Saturday, August 14, 2010. As in past years, the balloons will launch by 7:30 pm - Gates open at 5:00 pm to give spectators an early glimpse at the hot air balloons as pilots assemble them for their flights. (Weather Permitting)
Balloon Glow Friday and Saturday Night 9 PM
It's without a doubt the festive part planned for the Nebraska Balloon and Wine Festival. As the sun sets on Friday and Saturday, the crowd gathers to enjoy one of Omaha’s Favorite bands at the Main Stage with a party atmosphere in anticipation of the spectacular Balloon Glow where pilots make their hot air balloons dance to a musical beat. At approximately 8:30 pm, several colorful hot air balloons begin to inflate and balloonists vie for their chance to be the stars of a most spectacular part of the evening - the Balloon Glow. (Weather Permitting)
Nebraska Balloon and Wine Festival 2008
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Photos by Wayne Elsasser
Elk Ridge Village at 192nd and Blondo was once again the site of the Nebraska Balloon & Wine Festival. After last year's larger-than-expected crowd, the festival was expanded to two nights for 2008, Friday and Saturday August 8-9. And once again, the turnout was larger than anticipated, with some festival-goers waiting in line 20 minutes at the gate. The two-day attendance total was estimated at over 5,000. Ten wineries offered tastes and sales of their products, including wines and microbrews. Food vendors, pony rides for the kids, and musical entertainment both nights provided a backdrop for the main events - the balloon launches and glows.
Friday night saw the launch of four balloons; Steve Lacroix's Propane Addiction, Rich Jaworski's Euphoria, Matt Fenster's Third Priority, and Indianola, Iowa's John Jensen in TJ's Rainbow. Meanwhile, Gene Elsasser was working the upper-level winds trying to navigate RE/Max into the Elk Ridge launch field. But the low-level east wind thwarted his approach, though not for lack of trying (and despite coaching from Mark Enholm and Dave Edmister on the ground). Lacroix, Fenster, and Jensen then returned to the field to join Matthew Grote in Jester Unwindz and Tom Peterson in Dreamtime for a balloon glow. John switched envelopes for the glow, inflating Ghost Rider in the dark. Rob & Glenda Skiba joined us at El Bee's in Waterloo for the after-party to critique the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics. This is a tough crowd to please!
Saturday afternoon's gentle winds turned gusty, delaying the balloon launch a bit, but eventually allowing Lacroix, Jaworski, Fenster, Elsasser, and Grote to launch to the applause of the crowd. Southeast winds carried them right over the crowd and off toward Waterloo. Lacroix, Fenster, Elsasser and Grote returned to the field at sunset to join Peterson in a second balloon glow as spectators mingled on the field.