Balloon Festival June 5-7, 2009

Friday evening crowd with inflate beginning

Right: Cambridge Central School children play in the "Rag Bag" balloon provided by Rob Swinton, MajesticBalloonFlights.com

THANKS TO 2009 SPONSORS

• Tinkham Real Estate
  
• Glens Falls National Bank
  
• LJ Fulfillment/Over the Moon Beads
• Paraco Peoples Gas
• Monument Urology
• O'Hearns' Pharmacy
• Southern Adirondack Tobacco Free Coalition
• Baker Insurance Agency/Law Office of John Imhof
• Washington County Tourism Association
• Contessa Racing

• Glens Falls Hospital Family Health Centers

• K Ward Realty

• Adirondack Broadcasting
• LaFlammes AES and LaFlammes Inc.

• Adirondack Trust Insurance
  

PILOT'S BLOCK PARTY:

• Dupuis Landscape Supply Company

• Kings Car Care Center

ARTIST RECEPTION:

• Over the Moon Graphics
• Jerry Simon Auto Sales

CHAMPAGNE SPONSOR:

• Black Dog Wines and Liquor

BALLOONS AND SPIRITS SOARED IN THE CAMBRIDGE VALLEY

The Ninth Annual Cambridge Valley Balloon Festival held June 5-7, 2009 was the largest, most successful festival yet. The organizers (Cambridge Valley Chamber of Commerce) report crowds of 2500 to 3000 spectators for each of the evening launches, surprisingly good turnouts for the early morning launches and an almost maximum capacity participation in the Taste of Cambridge and Moonglow events Saturday evening.
Spectators were thrilled by the lift off of hot air Balloons despite an attack by the Pompanuck Pirates and threatening skies of Friday evening and the breezy conditions on Saturday evening. Both early morning launches were calm and beautiful, with light breezes gently floating the balloons over the village, heading north up the valley.
Our local businesses reported large crowds creating brisk sales, full rooms and huge quantities of food served. Events like the Balloon Festival can generate a large amount of sales tax revenue for Washington County, which benefits all our residents. This community event strives to expose the best assets of our area to residents and travelers alike, welcoming everyone to visit our businesses, our landscapes and to enjoy our region again and again. Please visit the Cambridge Valley Chamber of Commerce website www.cambridgenychamber.com or call us at 518-677-0887 with comments or information and to see some of the photos of this year’s events.
We will be having a Balloon Festival wrap up meeting some time in June, (check the website for time and place) then we will start planning for the 10th Annual Balloon Festival which will take place June of 2010.

The Cambridge Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Balloon Festival Committee would like to extend their thanks to the public, the press, Town and Village Fire & Police Departments, Cambridge Valley Rescue Squad and the local residents for their support and patience during the 2009 festival. Without them, the generosity of our sponsors, and the participation of our dedicated fleet of balloon pilots and crews this event couldn’t have taken place. THANK YOU!

	Moonglow with Happy Camper
Remote Control Balloon piloted by Nick	Lift off with raffle winner Eva Fitzgerald (far right) and kids, in Pinwheel piloted by Rob Swinton

Sponsors and volunteers make this event happen. Without your donations of time and money there couldn't be a Balloon Festival. To everyone who gets involved, Thank you from the Balloon Festival committee.
Donations to the festival are always welcome. Any amount is appreciated.

Please mail to CVCC Balloon Festival, PO Box 405, Cambridge, NY 12816

Donors sending $100 or more will be listed as 2009 Gold Sponsors

Donors sending $50-99 will be listed as 2009 Silver Sponsors

this year's press releases before the festival

IT’S TIME TO PARTY IN CAMBRIDGE AND EVERYONE IS INVITED!

The Ninth Annual Cambridge Valley Balloon Festival begins Friday evening, and we are waiting for you to help get the party started!

To get yourself in the Balloon Festival mood, purchase a tee shirt early at O’Hearn’s Pharmacy or Battenkill Riversports, pick up a poster at Deluge Designs Stained Glass and Gifts and stop by the Cambridge Hotel to place a bid on the 2009 original painting by Virginia McNeice. The silent auction continues until June 7 Pilot’s Breakfast.

On Friday evening at 5:30 pm everyone is welcome to join us for opening ceremonies ath the Cambridge Central School (sponsored by Adirondack Broadcasting, Laflammes AES and Laflammes Inc.) with the traditional pilot’s prayer, Pilot and Sponsor introductions, music and the balloons launching for the first time around 7 pm. We have a special balloon this year, Nick, the R.C. Balloon Pilot will be joining us, sponsored by Girl Scout Troop #3467. Balloon Sponsors this year are Washington County Tourism Association, Tinkham Real Estate, Southern Adirondack Tobacco Free Coalition, Paraco Gas, O’Hearn’s Pharmacy, Monument Urology, L.J. Fulfillment and Over the Moon Beads and Gifts, Glens Falls National Bank, Contessa Racing and Baker Insurance Agency and the Law Office of John Imhof. 

There will be a Pilot’s Block Party (sponsored by Dupuis Landscape Supply Company) at the Cambridge Hotel beginning at 5 pm and continuing with music, food and drink until 11 pm. While you are in the neighborhood stop over to Hubbard Hall and take in an art opening or the current play.

Join us really early Saturday morning for the 5:30 am lift off, (The local Girl Scout Troup 3362 will be supplying coffee and doughnuts at the field to help you wake up).  After the launch you can head to breakfast.  St. Luke’s Church in the village and the American Legion Post on Route 22, just north of town, are hosting breakfasts.  Our local restaurants, the Cambridge Hotel (offering a breakfast buffet), Country Gals Café and West Village Market are also open early and ready for your visit.

After breakfast enjoy a craft and vendor fair or two, walk the village, head up to New Skete for their open house, shop in our unique shops and relax in our small town atmosphere. Learn how to be a clown at Hubbard Hall, find out about the game of lacrosse at the Cambridge Central School or settle in to watch the Balloon Festival Classic Bicycle Race take off from the Cambridge Hotel.

Taste of Cambridge (sponsored by Alexander’s True Value and Eagle Bridge Custom Meats) begins at 5:00 pm with more vendors and more variety than previous years. Located behind the Cambridge IGA the Taste of Cambridge Event will have pizza, fried dough and assorted goodies from Schoolhouse Pizza, and Eagle Bridge Smoked Meats will be back with sausage & peppers and burgers.  Save room for jerk chicken wraps plus the fixins’ from the Cambridge Hotel, steamers, veggie burgers and burritos from West Village Market, fresh potato chips and burgers from Saratoga Chips and then cool down with a snow cone and a late night popcorn from our friends at Alexander’s True Value Just Ask Rentals, (also supplier of the tents and chairs).  You have to have dessert so treat yourself to the famous Rice Mansion Inn Donut Bread Pudding Apple Crisp with Ice Cream (made from locally sourced ingredients), Chocolate Fondue, world famous cheesecake from the Nuns of New Skete, ice cream cones and shakes from Ice Cream Man or fresh cider donuts and cider slushes from Reggies Veggies. After a long day of Balloon chasing, cycle race watching, shopping and just having fun, enjoy alfresco dining Cambridge style.

Saturday Evening balloon launch takes place at the school, around 7:00 pm and then head back into town as the food festival turns to music and Moon Glow as the evening deepens.  Our Moon Glow (sponsored by Cambridge Guest Home and the Cambridge Valley Chamber of Commerce) consists of tethered balloons illuminated by their gas flames orchestrated to music.  It is quite a thrill, make sure to bring your camera.

Don’t plan on getting much sleep because the balloons launch again on Sunday morning at 5:30 am.  Head over to the school for the launch (with doughnuts and coffee sold by Girl Scout Troup 3362) or take your coffee outside and sit on the lawn in your pajamas, the whole village does it!  After the launch, breakfast is a must.  The Varak Park Craft Show continues or just wander around the area, get your car washed by Cub Scout Pack #62 at Rusty’s Car Wash from 11-2 and enjoy another beautiful day in Cambridge.

The final official Cambridge Valley Chamber of Commerce event is the Pilot’s Breakfast (sponsored by A&M Printers), 10 am on Sunday held at the Masonic Temple in Coila (reservations suggested). 

The Balloon Festival launches take place on the grounds of Cambridge Central School, Route 22, in the Village of Cambridge.  Parking is free and plentiful.  Please visit the Cambridge Valley Chamber of Commerce website for more information www.cambridgenychamber.com or call us at 518-677-0887 for reservations or information.  Balloon Festivals rely on good weather.  The balloons can‘t fly if it is raining or windy.

Balloon Fest is Back with More Balloons than Ever! June 5-7

Press release 5/18/09

Have you been meaning to invite those friends or family members to visit for a weekend?   Balloon Festival may be the perfect opportunity.
We sometimes forget what a beautifully bucolic valley we live in. But when we invite friends from the city or suburbs, their long sighs and appreciative gazes remind us of just how lucky we are.  Balloon Festival is the perfect time to invite folks up because we can do as much or as little as we like.  We can watch Friday night’s balloon launch (Cambridge Central School, 7pm) and stroll downtown for a barbeque dinner with the pilots afterward, or we can stay home, sip drinks and watch from the porch.  We can rise early for a Saturday morning launch (5:30) and go for a 5K run (9:00), or sleep in and enjoy a golden pancake breakfast and church tour at St. Luke’s (7-11am).  In the afternoon we could wander around the craft show at Varak Park, browse our many gift shops, or just meander down the new yellow brick road behind Hubbard Hall.  We could have a quiet night of cards, or enjoy dinner and the Moon Glow on the Green ( around 9:00 pm).  We get up bright and early on Sunday and take in the last Balloon launch at 5:30 a.m., and before sending our visitors packing, we could feed them cereal, or ride over to the American Legion for a big cooked breakfast to fortify their travel.

So no more excuses; it time to invite those friends you’ve been meaning to!

BRING YOUR APPETITE TO THE TASTE OF CAMBRIDGE,  JUNE 6, 5pm.

The Taste of Cambridge has more vendors and more variety than previous years.  This year the Saturday afternoon (starting at 5pm behind the Cambridge IGA) Taste of Cambridge Event will have ice cream cones and shakes from Ice Cream Man, pizza , fried dough and assorted goodies from Schoolhouse Pizza, and Eagle Bridge Smoked Meats (also a Taste of Cambridge Sponsor) will be back with sausage & peppers and burgers.  Save room for jerk chicken wraps and all the fixin's from the Cambridge Hotel, steamers, veggie burgers and burritos from West Village Market, fresh homemade potato chips and burgers from Saratoga Chips and then cool down with a snow cone and a late night popcorn from our friends at Alexander’s True Value Just Ask Rentals, (Taste of Cambridge Sponsor and supplier of the tents and chairs).  You have to have dessert so treat yourself to the famous Rice Mansion Inn Donut Bread Pudding Apple Crisp with Ice Cream (with locally sourced ingredients), Chocolate Fondue, world famous cheesecake from the Nuns of New Skete or fresh cider donuts and cider slushes from Reggies Veggies. After a long day of Balloon chasing, cycle race watching, shopping and just having fun, enjoy alfresco dining Cambridge style, topped off with a MoonGlow at dark, approximately 9:00 pm.  WHAT A WAY TO SPEND A DAY IN CAMBRIDGE.

CAMBRIDGE VALLEY BALLOON FESTIVAL
NEWS FOR THE WEEK OF MAY 11, 2009

Thank you to all who attended the Artist Reception party on Friday May 8.  The 2009 Poster Art by Virginia McNeice  titled “Dawn Flight” was unveiled to an appreciative crowd.  The original painting will be on display ( and subject to a silent auction) from now until June 7, 2009 in the Glens Falls National Bank branch in Cambridge. The 2009 merchandise will be on sale before the Balloon Festival in the following stores : O’Hearn’s Pharmacy and Gifts for all merchandise, Deluge Design Stained Glass and Gifts for Posters and Pins, Battenkill Riversports and Campground for t-shirts and tote bags. This year’s Artist Reception was sponsored by Jerry Simon Auto Sales and Over the Moon Graphics. 2009 Tee Shirts are sponsored by K. Ward Realty.  Thank you to our sponsors.

WITH A LITTLE MORE THAN THREE WEEKS LEFT TO GO the Balloon Festival committee is busy with all sorts of things.  Put your name in a Balloon Fest Raffle bag at participating member businesses for your chance to win a hot air Balloon Ride.  Winning entry will be drawn on Tuesday June 2nd. Shop local and often to increase your chance to win!  You must be able to take your flight during the weekend of Balloon Fest, most likely Saturday morning at 5:30 a.m.

We have many generous sponsors supporting the festival this year.  Here is a partial list.  The Taste of Cambridge is being sponsored by Alexander’s True Value and Eagle Bridge Custom Meats. There are 10 balloons this year, including 2 new pilots (including our first woman pilot) and a couple of other new balloons.   Balloon Sponsors are as follows: Tinkham Real Estate, Glens Falls National Bank, L.J. Fullfillment and Over the Moon Beads and Gifts, Paraco Gas, Monument Urology, O’Hearn’s Pharmacy, Southern Adirondack Tobacco Free Coalition, Baker Insurance and The Law Office of John Imhof, Washington County Tourism Association, and Contessa Racing.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO GET INVOLVED?  We are always happy to have volunteers help with Merchandise Booth sales, hauling things between venues, general clean up, handing out programs, directing parking and.  Volunteers get a nifty yellow Balloon Festival t-shirt that money can’t buy, only your donation of time can.  Come to a meeting, every Tuesday night at 6:00 pm at the Cambridge Rescue Squad building on Gilbert Street (Route 313). We hope you will join us.  For more information about the Balloon Festival or about the Cambridge Valley Chamber e-mail cambridgechamber@gmail.com or call 518-677-0887.

The photography-inspired painting captures several balloons from a bird's eye view above Cambridge. Glimpses of the south end of the Village and at least two church steeples can be seen at the bottom of the lovely, vibrant painting.

The artist generously agreed to allow his original painting to be sold at auction with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the balloon festival. The Chamber is extremely grateful to Evan Wilson for his generous donation.
2008 posters are still available, contact the chamber, Evan Wilson or go to Deluge Design Stained Glass in Cambridge.

For more information on the artist, visit www.evanwilson.net.