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Show Tli nsoiirj0 -II - The Park City Arts Festival had something for everyone. See Street Beat, B5 ,r itvh Itcconl August 10, 1995 Section B Page Bl r. m .. liMJ HM-l,Mto Ml S-.'A Install, .... , u. Smith's Balloon Festival ready to launch by LISAANTONUCCI Record staff writer t's up, up and away as more than 70 beautiful hot air balloons fill the sky over the Snyderville Basin during this weekends Smith s Balloon Festival. Balloon festivals have been a long-time Park City tradition. For example, Autumn Aloft, which launched out of Park Meadows, is now but a fond memory for Park City residents. Ironically, its popularity popu-larity was the reason it was discontinued. discon-tinued. As the event grew, so did its need for organization, sponsorship sponsor-ship and county and city approval. Without approval for an alternative site, the last Autumn Aloft was held in 1993. Smith's already sponsors two other balloon festivals, one in Southern California and one in Albuquerque, and was chosen when Park City's ChamberBureau was searching for a new festival organizer. Smith's California festival festi-val attracted 102,000 spectators over three days its first year, and organizers are expecting as many as 50,000 people to attend this weekend's event in Park City. Despite plenty of initial skepticism, skepti-cism, the Summit County Commission unanimously agreed to allow the event to take place, just one month before the proposed date of the festival. Concern mostly most-ly centered around location, as those opposed worried that the meadow area in the Snyderville Basin the future site of Swaner Memorial Park would be too fragile to withstand the projected crowds and traffic associated with the event. Festival organizers addressed the potential traffic and environmental problems to the Commission's satisfaction, sat-isfaction, including posting a bond to cover restoration of the area in case any problems do occur. More than 70 pilots from around the world will participate in the event which will officially open with an evening launch Friday, and feature mass balloon launches at sunrise and sunset Saturday and Sunday. This marks the first time evening launches have been held in Park City. They will be followed by evening concerts and balloon glow. Friday night's festivities will celebrate cel-ebrate the coming of the 2002 Winter Games, with a special tribute trib-ute to local youth and athletes, and feature the musical duo America. Daytime entertainment will include continuous live music on the AT&T Wireless stage; Smith's Food Festival, where spectators can sample complimentary treats from Smith's; the Nabisco Fun Zone, including Oreo stacking contests con-tests and a BMX bike giveaway; and Smith's Kids' Village where there will be pony and camel rides, an All Sport Challenge Land and Best Friends Animal Sanctuary. Mickey Mouse will be making a special guest appearance Saturday to sign autographs along with members of the Utah Jazz. Disneyland is one of several sev-eral festival sponsors. In addition to bringing a special-shaped special-shaped balloon to the event, Disney has selected Big BrothersBig Sisters as its "charity of choice" from among more than 40 nonprofit agencies participating at the festival. Races will occur throughout the festival with pilots competing in a variety of races including' the "Hare and Hound" race for a total of $15,000 in prize money. There will plenty of contests for festival-goers as well. Spectators can participate in the $1 Million Hole-in-One competition. Guests are invited to take their best shot at the 264-yard drive for $1 a shot. The top 10 finishers will compete Aug. 13 for the final round and the chance to win a million dollars. Other contests include the StaggHuntWesson Chili Cookoff where chili afficionados from throughout the region will present their special recipes Saturday afternoon. after-noon. Winners qualify for the Utah State Finals. Guests are also invited invit-ed to participate in the limbo contest, con-test, the Pepsi All Sport Challenge and the talent search. More than 50 of the finest vintage vin-tage autos will be on display at the classic car show throughout the festival, and local artists will display dis-play and sell their work at the arts and crafts market. Admission for the Smith's Balloon Festival is $12 for adults with proof of purchase at any Smith's Food & Drug Center, and $15 at the gate. Children ages 6-12 can enter for $5, and children under 6 are free. Each ticket is good for one day including festival seating seat-ing for the evening concerts. con-certs. Tickets can be purchased pur-chased at all Smith's Tix locations or at the festival box office. Special shaped balloons to fill the sky . You may have noticed some unusual activity outside your window win-dow this morning a floating dragon and polar bear, or perhaps you'll see Noah's Ark flying by. Wipe the sleep out of our eyes and have a closer look they are just a few of the special shaped balloons bal-loons that will be, flying high during dur-ing this weekend's balloon festival. While the tra'ditional shaped balloons bal-loons fill the sky competing for $15,000 in prize money, the special-shaped balloons are the real show stoppers. Thursday morning they competed in Utah's first hot air balloon pro-am race. In the "Hare and Hound" race, 15 teams will compete in the event sponsored by Smith Balloon Festival as part of the U.S. Western Balloon Championships. The event begins when the "hare" balloon inflates and takes off from the launch area. About 10 minutes later, the "hound" balloons inflate and lift off. The goal is to fly toward the hare balloon while strategically keeping the other hounds away. When the hare is ready, it lands and spreads a large "X" on the ground. Each hound then flies in and drops a bean bag marker on the ground. The team with their marker closest to the "X" is the winner. Invited special-shaped balloons include the Fred B. Rabbit, Planter's own Mr. Peanut and a Coke Can. The polar bear, which is about as tall as an eight-story building (10 two-story homes can fit inside!), will compete. The bear presents special considerations to the pilot Drew Roznowski, who must work closely with his crew since the legs of the balloon hang about five feet below the gondola, and he often can't see what's in front of him. "Smaug," the giant purple dragon, drag-on, will be making an appearance in the competition. Smaug stands 118 feet tall and features 26 teeth, 17 spines and a dozen claws, however, how-ever, he really is quite well-behaved. A balloon two years in the making, mak-ing, Nabisco's Noah's Ark "Arky" will sail in this morning's competition. The balloon was designed with 28 different animals representing every continent and environment in the world. The ark was the dream of Rev. John Petersen of Centralia, 111., who works with survivors of physical and sexual abuse. He wanted the balloon to lift the hopes and dreams of the staff and children with whom he worked and show them the first step to healing is to learn to dream again. Also competing is the Disneyland Castle in the Sky, a replica of the one found in die California theme park. It is 131 feet tall and weighs 844 pounds. The balloon was rumored to have been made for the opening of France's Eurodisney. Although it never flew overseas, the castle will fly today over Snyderville Basin. The special shaped balloons will fly all weekend during the mass ballon launches. Schedule of Events Friday, Aug. 11 1 p.m. Gates open 1-5 p.m. Smith's food festival Tempo Timers, Insatiable perform Classic car show 5:30 p.m. Mass balloon inflation Salute to 2002 Olympics 5:45 p.m. Mass balloon launch and special-shapes special-shapes rodeo 7 p.m. Performance by America 9:15 p.m. Utah's first balloon glow live musical performances Hole-in-one golf contest 5 p.m. Mass balloon inflation 5:30 p.m. Mass balloon launch and special-shapes rodeo 7 p.m. Performance Oak Ridge Boys 9:15 p.m. Mass balloon glow Sunday, Aug. 13 Saturday, Aug. 12 6:30 a.m. Balloon inflation 7:30 a.m. Mass balloon launch including special shapes 8 a.m. Utah couple weds in hot air balloon 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Disneyland hosts Big Brothers Big Sisters party with Mickey Mouse noon-5 p.m. Chili cook-off 1-6 p.m. Corvette car show Tethered balloon demonstrations Continuous family entertainment and 6:30 a.m. Balloon inflation 7:30 a.m. Mass balloon launch including special shapes 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Classic car show Smith's food festival Tethered balloon demonstrations Hole-in-one contest 1 2 p.m. Oscar Meyer talent search 2 p.m. Congo Bongo limbo contest Panoramic steel drums 3 p.m. Performance by the Utah Symphony 6 p.m. Mass Balloon inflation 6:30 p.m. Mass balloon launch and special-shapes rodeo 7 ( : ff WW! 1 H - jr i 8 Jk mmMMiipiTOiui mil ....iiiiiiimn ICtlXeT" video games and losing yourself on the N E T ..Rick O CO, C? 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