2016 Balloon fest

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2016 Lincoln Balloon Fest LINCOLN DAILY NEWS August 30, 2016 Page 3
If you have ever planned, conducted and
cleaned-up after a party of say, 20 people,
well imagine doing that for thousands. It
is a big deal. Just laying out the roads and
parking in a field, conducting traffic flow,
and other logistics are a major undertaking.
The volunteers do it for our community.
And then really, there are the spectators.
What’s a festival without guests. They
matter. Those who come for the very first
time, often traveling a distance, are trusting
that a good experience awaits for them and
their family, and that their comfort and
safety have been taken into consideration.
Let’s not forget all those who come year
after year, bring their families and friends
to look for something new to enjoy, and
to take in the spectacular balloon launches
and glows that are the highlight of the
festival.
Years past, visitors would go home and
tell others about their experience. Now as
you walk the grounds, you will hear and
see people on their cell phones talking and
texting directions, “You have just got to
see this. Come now. You’d don’t want to
miss it.”
We haven’t even touched on the
balloonists, what they go through to get
here and fly; what is done to make their
experience a good one - arrangements for
refueling propane, road maps, breakfasts,
pilot briefings, a balloon meister to
coordinate launches, agreements with local
farmers and landowners for landing - just
to name a few details. It is no simple
matter. That many of the same balloon
pilots and their families come and return
time and again is a testament to the years
of goodwill that has been built through
dedicated hard work.
For more on the Balloon Festival workings
at the Logan County Airport, this 2013
article provides more insight on what it
takes to put on the festival, but it would
take a book and then some, to give credit to
all whom it is due.
Balloon fest: 25 years and going up
Volunteers make it work
Aug/23/News/today082313_v.shtml
This is but a teeny tiny glimpse into what
has made the Lincoln Balloon Festival a
greater success year after year... 28 years
now, and counting.
Congratulations and thank you to the
Lincoln/Logan County Chamber of
Commerce, event sponsors, and the
countless volunteers, for all your effort
and support of the festival and to our
community.
All the staff of Lincoln Daily News salutes
you