Balloon Festival Update

10.17.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 15th Jul 2008

Balloons took to the air on Friday morning, 15th. August on the opening day of the Northampton Balloon Festival. The Mayor of Northampton, Cllr. Brian Markham was one of those who enjoyed the ride in near perfect conditions.

Despite the loss that the festival makes the Lib Dem Council kept the Balloon Festival as part of its leisure this year.

Listed below are some of the news items about the festival:

Re-live your favourite movie moments with 'CLASS OF 08'

'CLASS OF 08' will be coming to this year's Northampton Balloon Festival. This exciting tribute act comprising five boys and girls, will take you on a journey that will have you singing along to hits from films such as High School Musical, Grease, Dirty Dancing, and Hannah Montana!

Councillor Brendan Glynane, Liberal Democrat cabinet member responsible for Leisure said: "We have an exciting line-up of attractions and shows at this year's festival. A TV campaign, which starts Wednesday 6 August, will help to promote the balloon festival which is a major event in the region's calendar."

The event is free for children 16 and under. Adults will pay £4 for daily admission and a three day ticket is £9. Tickets can be purchased from Lings Forum, Danes Camp, and Mounts Baths Leisure Centres and the Northampton Museum and Art Gallery. Tickets can also be purchased over the phone by debit or credit card by calling 01604 838 333. Bookings made over the phone are subject to a booking fee. All entertainment accept fair ground rides are included in the admission charge. Tickets are also available on the gates of the Racecourse.

Blues Brothers Reloaded appearing live on Saturday 16 August at the Northampton Balloon Festival 2008!

Powerful, energetic, amazing, musical numbers together with the deadpan humour, dance routines, suits and even the watches down to the smallest detail, all add up to make these guys performing one of the best Blues Brothers tribute you will ever see.

Blues Brother reloaded are a 9 - piece tribute show. Consisting of Lead, Rhythm and Bass Guitar, Drums, Saxophone and Blues Harp. As well as all the singing, and dancing Soul Sisters…and of course the Blues Brothers themselves, Jake and Elwood, truly a powerhouse performance!

Event organisers at Northampton Borough Council have been working closely with Northamptonshire Police to finalise traffic arrangements for this year's Balloon Festival.

Special traffic arrangements are put in place every year over the three-day event to ensure people can make their way to and from the balloon festival site freely and easily while keeping disruption to the town at a minimum.

The traffic arrangements are also an essential safety measure ensuring that emergency vehicles can gain unobstructed access to the Racecourse and neighbouring properties should they need to attend to an emergency during the event.

Northampton Borough Councillor Brendan Glynane, Liberal Democrat cabinet member for community engagement and safety said: "The balloon festival can attract in excess of 250,000 people making it the biggest event in the town. The special traffic arrangements are an essential part of putting on a safe and enjoyable event for everyone who attends.

"Our events team work closely with Northamptonshire Police on the traffic arrangements each year and we aim to keep disturbance to local residents at a minimum. Where residents' parking is affected we do offer free parking on the Racecourse instead."

Inspector Dave Spencer from Northamptonshire Police, said: "There are always large crowds at the balloon festival and therefore it is a major policing operation for us.

"Traffic routes and parking restrictions for the event have been devised to benefit the local residents in the Racecourse area and also those coming from further afield to visit the event. Residents will be receiving a letter about the traffic management scheme and and how it works.

"Our officers will be there to give visitors any help and support that they need but we would ask people attending such a large event to always be aware of their surroundings. Protect your valuables and be vigilant at all times, especially if you have young children with you who like to wander. This will enable you to stay safe and enjoy the festival."

In the interest of safety the public are requested not to remove or tamper with any of the signs or 'no waiting' cones as this is an offence. Any obstructing vehicles may be removed.

To find out more about the Northampton Balloon Festival 2008 visit www.northamptonballoonfestival.com or call the council's events team on 01604 838222

US Balloon Pilot returns to the Northampton Balloon Festival 2008!

Don Conner first flew to the United Kingdom to visit the Northampton Balloon Festival back in 1998 and piloted the Gulf Air Balloon, this year Don is back to grace our skies for this year's Northampton 2008 Balloon Festival and to date has flown the Gulf Air balloon in over 20 countries.

When Don Conner was a child and growing up in America had no idea balloons were for flying in or even existed, however he was fascinated by anything that flew and loved going to the small local airport in Anderson, Indiana to watch airplanes. As soon as he saw his first balloon Don new he wanted to be a balloonist and became so obsessed that he managed to talk three of his friends to join in with him and buy a balloon.

Don started ballooning as a hobby in 1972 with his three friends, but ballooning is expensive, so the three young men had to raise money to enable them to pay for fuel and insurance. Initially Don sold new and used balloons to new pilots. As Don and his partners expanded their business, being surrounded by the excitement and beauty of balloons the hobby grew into a full time job.

After doing enough commercial work to pay for this hobby seven years on Don became a full-time professional in 1979. Balloons are registered aircrafts so Don had to pass many an instruction course with an instructor and pass a written exam. The final step was the flight exam, a bit like a driving test!

In 1995 Don became associated with Gulf Air when he and his wife Debbie organized a balloon festival to celebrate the Sultan's Silver Jubilee in 1995. This is where it all began, and now they both operate a balloon for Gulf Air at various international balloon festivals.

Don said: "the great benefit of being the pilot of the Gulf Air Balloon is the opportunity to fly balloons in many different countries, a total of 21 so far!" Gulf Air are ideal sponsors as they fly to many exciting destinations and the balloon is also easy to ship wherever they need it via Gulf Air Cargo".

World record attempt at Northampton Balloon Festival - Come and break a world record attempt at the Balloon Festival.

On Saturday 16 August at 5.15pm in Arena A at the Racecourse, the Pink Ladies dance group want as many people as possible to participate in a YMCA challenge. This involves trying to get into the Guinness Book of records by taking part in the YMCA routine.

There is a prize for the best dressed so get your dancing kit ready for the attempt.

The Guinness world record rules state that the people attempting the record must dance simultaneously for at least 5 minutes to the chosen song.

The world record for the longest line of people is currently held by Island School, Hong Kong where 1,048 people danced to YMCA.

Northampton Borough Councillor Brendan Glynane, cabinet member for the balloon festival said: "This sort of activity always goes down well with our younger visitors, but in this case I think it will prove popular with mum's and dad's too. So come down to the balloon festival, and be a record breaker, entry is just £4 daily for adults and under-16's go free. A three-day pass can also be purchased for £9."