Balloons and Tunes draws large crowd for first showing
By Carolyn Reid
FALMOUTH — Needed: A vision; a reason; and a venue
Those three elements came together in the past year to bring the Inaugural Balloons and Tunes event to the Wool Fest Grounds in Pendleton County this past weekend, and more than 3,000 people turned out on the site that is famous for its fall festival celebrating Pendleton County’s history in the wool industry.
Nearly 600 of the attendees climbed on board to experience a tethered balloon ride, and the highlight of that event reportedly was the engagement of a young couple, Jacob Cordray and Abby Henderson, with Cordray taking advantage of the unique event to propose.
Overall, attendees gave “glowing” reviews about the event.
Sherry Price commented, “The event was very family-oriented.”
She said her family enjoyed the sights of the glowing balloons and the sounds of the music surrounding them. She also mentioned the fact the event was close to home and was at her much-loved Wool Fest grounds.
Kelly Zumwalt expressed similar opinions. “(Balloons and Tunes) was amazing — the size of the balloons and the organization of the event! ... When (the balloons) were all lit up, it was unimaginable.”
The Zumwalts live right above the grounds. “We could have watched it from the hill, but the experience would have been different,” she said. “I don’t think we would have appreciated the size of the balloons if we hadn’t gone.”
She also commented on the numbers and the space. “It was a good-sized crowd, but it didn’t feel cramped. Everyone had room to enjoy the show…Everyone had a good time.”
Jen Short, president of Pendleton County Tourism, bragged on the team and credited many others as she discussed the whys and wherefores of the event’s beginnings and quite successful final product.
According to Short, the tourism council has had a balloon glow in their sites for several years, but having one as close as Coney Island in Cincinnati made it a little less attractive. However, Coney, in a controversial move, closed its doors at the end of last season, and the area is being repurposed by “Music and Event Management Inc., a subsidiary of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, to turn it into a sport, dining and entertainment” venue, according to WLWT-TV.
This opened the door for serious consideration by the local tourism council to bring the glow to the county.
Even better, Short said, “The Kentucky Wool Festival Board was so helpful in planning with many years of expertise under their belts utilizing the Wool Fest grounds. They were interested in seeing their location used for more than the Wool Fest, and the timing worked out perfectly!”
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