2nd Annual Citrus Classic Hot Air Balloon Festival starts Friday
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula News
Published: July 29, 2009
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula Times
Carla Edwards believes she knows why people love hot air balloons: “I just think it’s a magical, fantastical experience.... Balloons are always linked to magic and fantasy, flights of fancy,” such as Dorothy and the Wizard in “The Wizard of Oz.”
Edwards, founder of the Citrus Classic Hot Air Balloon Festival, believes balloon lovers will come from near and far for this weekend’s second annual event, to be held at Teague-McKevett Ranch. “One of the pilots told me in Mexico that balloons are a positive association around the world, like rainbows.”
The two-day festival will open at 5 p.m. Friday with a lineup of entertainment and things to do while awaiting the Glow, when more than 20 balloons will “fire-up,” illuminating the area through the softly moving orbs until 11 p.m. when the festival closes for the evening.
Balloon lovers will be ready on Saturday when the gates open at 5 a.m., and they’ll be able to purchase coffee and breakfast items from vendors while they wait for the Mass Balloon Ascension, which will begin at 6 a.m. The competing balloons will be off on the Hare and Hound Race as the balloons lift off one by one to chase the “hare,” a target marker.
The winner is the “hound” pilot who drops his marker the closest - last year’s winner was within two feet - to the target. After the race the pilots will return to the festival site in chase vehicles to breakfast with festival guests, answer questions and tell of their ballooning adventures.
After a full day of activities for the whole family, the second and closing Glow will be conducted.
“Just to see the kids’ eyes at the first event, I had to do this again for Santa Paula” as, noted Edwards, “the kids look at it and think ‘This is magic in my hometown.’ A German pilot told me wherever he goes it’s the same reaction” to the balloons. “They appear out of thin air, disappear into thin air, the magical shapes, it’s universal magic... but it wasn’t until he said it that it hit me,” the true wonder of hot air balloons, man’s first method of flight, and Edwards started on her quest to bring ballooning to Santa Paula.
There is also the factor of raising awareness of the area and boosting the economy, and the new setting for the festival is “very beautiful, the pilots have a great environment.” Although Edwards concedes the “River Valley has a little bit of wind challenges, with good luck it can be phenomenal flying” that could even be enhanced by a “little marine layer which can make the balloon disappear and reappear, just beautiful.”
Kids will enjoy the special shapes like the Panda Head and the Limoneira Lemon, and there will be nonstop activities both Friday and Saturday. From Jupiter, one of the United Kingdom’s top new teen bands, kicks off the classic at 5 p.m. Friday, followed from 7 to 11 p.m. by DJ Bruce Barrios. On Saturday, the entertainment line-up starts at 8 a.m. with the Holly Rollers, followed by the Tune Bandits at 10 a.m., the Cruise Knights at 10 a.m., Amanda and Travis Marsh at 2 p.m., Luna Gitana at 5:30 p.m., and the Charles Law Band at 8:30 p.m.
The children will enjoy an array of interactive science and technology displays on wind power, solar energy, and citrus-powered batteries, among other wonders. Inflatable slides and “Jolly Jumps,” ZORB ball, a kiddie train, face painting, roping demonstrations and other youth activities also are planned.
Also on Saturday, Dukes Car Club of Ventura County will host a Shine ‘N Show Car Show from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Ventura County semi-professional Fusion soccer team will host a youth soccer clinic at 10 a.m., available to children on a first-come basis.
Closing ceremonies begin at 6:30 p.m. with the presentation of the 2009 Citrus Classic Champion Trophy and cash prizes to winners of the race. At dusk, when the sun starts to set, the hot air balloons will inflate for the final Glow that will last until gates close at 11 p.m.
Edwards said free parking is readily available at “the same public lots used by the Kiwanis Citrus Festival,” and they will offer free shuttle service to the festival. Paid parking - the fee starts at $7 and depends on vehicle size - will benefit the Optimist Club and Ventura County Search & Rescue.
The Beer and Wine Garden will benefit the Boys & Girls Club of Santa Clara Valley.
“We have wonderful, wonderful volunteers” that Edwards said have tackled an array of duties, including working with balloon pilots.
On Saturday those attending the festival will have their hand stamped for reentry.
“People are asking if they can fly in the balloons,” and Edwards said a concession stand will be available for questions and reservations for future rides in the Santa Paula area only. Whether or not tethered balloon rides will be available at the event, “as with all things ballooning, are dependent on weather conditions and wind” and, noted Edwards, “each ride is dependent on each balloonist’s judgment.”
Festival tickets purchased in advance cost $7 per adult; $3 for youths, 5-14; free for children under age 5. At the gate, tickets cost $10 per adult; $5 for youths, 5-10; free for children under age 5.
Advance tickets may be purchased from the California Welcome Center in Oxnard, 988-0717; the Ventura Visitors and Convention Bureau, 648-2057; the Santa Paula Times, 944 E. Main St. (525-1890), the Santa Paula Chamber of Commerce, at the corner of 10th and Santa Barbara Streets (525-5561) and Rancho Camulos, 521-1501.
