S O U T H
TEXAS BALLOON FESTIVAL * NOVEMBER 19 - 22
NOVEMBER 19 - 22
TH
ND
RGV LIVESTOCK SHOW GROUNDS
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“GROUND-BREAKING!” “WOW!!!!”
For the first-time in the RGV, enjoy 15-20 beautiful Hot-Air Balloons
(including specialty character balloons) floating through the
morning skies of the Rio Grande Valley! This show features balloon
glows, tethered rides, flight rentals, carnival rides, food vendors, arts
& crafts - including local music entertainment!!!
FEATURING
LOCAL MUSICAL GUESTS - FRIDAY AND SATURDAY!
THE SOUTH TEXAS BALLOON
FESTIVAL WILL BE BILLED AS ONE
OF THE PREMIERE HOT AIR
BALLOON FESTIVALS IN THE
STATE, FEATURING 15-20
BEAUTIFUL CRAFTS FLOATING
ACROSS THE VALLEY’S SKIES!
SOUTH TEXAS BALLOON FESTIVAL • NOVEMBER 19 - 22
S O U T H
TEXAS BALLOON FESTIVAL * NOVEMBER 19 - 22
S O UTH TEXAS BALLO O N FES TI VAL
SPONSORSHIPS
This event seeks to be officially sponsored by various
company and private sponsors and is officially sanctioned by the
Ballooning Association. Local businesses and other support
organizations will be recruited to promote and help organize
the event. Organizations will be offered opportunity to vendor
and sell various arts, crafts, food and other programs
throughout the festival grounds. Delight in the splendor of Hot
Air Balloons, breath-taking shows, a 2K walk and amusement
rides that thrill people of all ages!
U.S. HISTORY OF HOT AIR BALLOONING
The first hot-air balloon was launched in the late 1700s and
its first passengers were animals!
SEPTEMBER 19, 1783: A sheep, a duck, and a rooster
became the first passengers in a hot-air balloon launched by the
Montgolfier brothers, Joseph and Ettienne.
JANUARY 9, 1793: The first flight of a balloon in North
America occurred in Philadelphia and was piloted by JeanPierre Blanchard.
OCTOBER 10, 1960: The official birth date of the
modern hot-air balloon. The first man-carrying free flight took
place at Bruning, Nebraska, in the Raven prototype ‘modern’
hot-air balloon. The 30,000 cu ft. envelope was constructed of a
polyurethane coated nylon and the burner was propane
powered. By 1963, the growing sport was able to sustain the
first U.S. national championships.
FIRST-EVER MANNED BALLOON FLIGHT
NOVEMBER 21, 1783: The first recorded manned
flight in a hot-air balloon took place in Paris. Built from
paper and silk by the Montgolfier brothers, this balloon was
piloted on a 22-minute flight by two noblemen from the
court of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. From the center
of Paris, they ascended 500 feet above the roof tops before
eventually landing miles away in the vineyards. Local
farmers were very suspicious of this fiery dragon descending
from the sky. the pilots offered champagne to placate them
and to celebrate the first human flight, a tradition carried on,
to this day.
HOT AIR BALLOONS, TODAY
The balloons used for passenger flights today were developed in the United States
during the 1960s have two main technological advances:
1. Hot Air Balloons use rip-stop nylon, a very SAFE and RELIABLE material for the
envelope
2. Hot Air Balloons today currently run a LPG gas burner to heat the air in the
envelope.
Hot-Air Balloon expert pilot, Ron
Broderick, flying a family
Ballooning began as a sport with a few enthusiasts in the USA and England and
spread to Australia in the 1970s. The last around-the-world trip on a hot-air balloon was
completed in 1999, now it serves as a novel pastime/hobby and way to make a living.
Many companies now contract hot-air balloon pilots to fly balloons displaying their logos
Today, there are over 5,000 balloon pilots in the U.S. alone.
SOUTH TEXAS BALLOON FESTIVAL • NOVEMBER 19 - 22
S O U T H
TEXAS BALLOON FESTIVAL * NOVEMBER 19 - 22
S O UTH TEXAS BALLO O N FES TI VAL - HI S TO RI C AL S UC C ES S
BALLOON FESTIVAL SUCCESS
The Albuquerque, New Mexico International Balloon
Festival which bills itself as the largest balloon festival in
the world, with 700 balloons filling the sky lasts nine days
and brings in $90 million in tourist spending. The Cities
of Overland Park, Kansas organizations make it a
business will their non profit organizations and local retail
benefit from their balloon Festival. Shenandoah Valley,
Virginia brought in 35-40 hot-air balloons in its first
festival year.
In Texas, the Plano Balloon Festival attracts weekend
crowds in excess of 100,000 people and is billed as the
largest event in the metroplex with strong family and
above average income demographics. It has expanded
from five ballooning events to a full weekend of activities
including performing arts stages, children's hands-on
activities and more. It has received wide coverage in all
media, especially radio, television, and newspaper
including national coverage. It has been designated as
the Balloon Capital of Texas and honored by support
from Federal, State, and Local government figures and
agencies. There are over 24 Balloon Festivals in the
Southwest, with four of significant size happening in the
Texas cities of Plano, Houston, Longview, and Palestine,
Texas.
SPECIALTY BALLOONS
Showcase has contracted the “Tweety-bird” and
“Sylvester The Cat” balloons for inclusion in the 2015
South Texas Balloon Festival!
Tweety-bird represents “specialty
balloons” that will be a part of the
2015 South Texas Balloon Festival
SOUTH TEXAS BALLOON FESTIVAL • NOVEMBER 19 - 22
S O U T H
TEXAS BALLOON FESTIVAL * NOVEMBER 19 - 22
S O UTH TEXAS BALLO O N FES TI VAL - O UR PLAN
FESTIVAL CONCEPT
PRODUCERS
A multi-day festival with activities
planned throughout the day(s) will be
produced. The Festival will promote and
market the annual event and showcase a
unique family Balloon Festival with
tethered/launching of large helium
balloons, all piloted by professional licensed
pilots.
Local businesses and other support
organizations will be recruited to assist in
the promotion and organization of this
event. Organizations will be offered the
opportunity to vendor and sell various arts,
crafts, food and other programs available
throughout the festival grounds.
Due to safety precautions, balloons are
not inflated during day-time hours. Special
balloons with commercial flight capability,
have been hand-selected for participation
in our event! Tethered balloon rides are
generally 10-minutes in duration and can
fit up to 6 people at one time. The cost for
these rides will be posted on-site.
Showcase proposes a modest first-year
scaled event with plans to bring in 15-20
balloons.
Showcase will produce all
coordination of staffing, professional
production, volunteer recruitment of
contractors, recruit workers and volunteer
organizations, in addition to allocating
Showcase Event Staff in co-producing with
the city an event that can be anchored
yearly. (Annual Signature Event)
With over thirty years experience in
marketing of small and large-scale events,
we have designed special events in various
markets through America.
We represent clients producing
Festivals, Concert Tours, Sporting Events
and work with exclusive product /
program investment partners nationally.
Internationally, we have developed
programs in Africa, Israel, China and
Mexico.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
• Thursday PM:
• Media/Sponsor night
• Catered VIP Evening Balloon
Glow
• Friday:
• Catered VIP area (PM)
• Doors Open: 6p
• PM Balloon Glow (GA)
• Concert: 8p
• Saturday:
• Doors Open: 5a.
• AM Sunrise Balloon Launch
• Doors Open for Carnival: 10a
• Day Activities
• Fajita Cook-off Contest: 1p
• Tethered Balloon Rides (All Day)
• PM Balloon Glow
• Concert: 8p
• Sunday:
• Doors Open: 5a
• AM Sunrise Balloon Launch
• Day Activities (Carnival) until 4p
FAMILY-FRIENDLY
STAGE AND PRODUCTION
WEATHER
By including local arts & crafts, a
Showcase will coordinate the staging,
THIS IS A RAIN OR SHINE EVENT.
children’s activity area and musical
production needs and all sponsorship
At the time of this event, weather is
entertainment, even the most discriminating
pavilions and concessions for this event.
expected to be ideal.
attendee will be sure to enjoy the festivities.
Event is scheduled to end and commence wrap-up at 4p
Sunday afternoon.
Showcase is a professional marketing company representing a staff of producers, consultants and promoters throughout the United States.
SOUTH TEXAS BALLOON FESTIVAL • NOVEMBER 19 - 22