December 2000
AnnualWaldbaum’sMusicand
BalloonFestivallocatedinthetownof
Shirley, Long Island, New York got off to
a fabulous start three years ago. But, hold
on a minute, what do you mean a balloon
festival, on Long Island, two-thirds of the
way east, about 50 miles from New York
City.Isn’tthatwhereabout8million
people live within 50 miles? You bet, and
whatagreatplaceforafestival.The
BrookhavenAirportprovideshundreds
of acres of parking, space for the balloons
and lots of room to roam for the hundreds
of thousandsofspectatorswhocometo
hearthemusicandseetheballoonsas
wellasthe hundreds of crafters and dis-
plays.
Asyo um ig htexp ectwit h
Brookhavenairportlocatedonthe south
flyone way,north, right? Wrong!!! The
ballooncantetherandtethertheydid.
With50b all oo n sin clu di ngm any
corporates and special shapes tethered all
day with nearly nowind. The shapes and
corporatestetheredintothenighteach
eveningforaspectacularglowandthe
sports sold tetheredrides for a seemingly
endlessline of willingtakers.
The musicstarted Friday evening with
Chubby Checker and Mary Wilson & the
Supremes. Saturday hadthe BeachBoys
as the main attraction and they drew more
than a hundredthousand folks.After the
concert,theGruccifamily,longknown
for theirinternational fireworksawards,
put on a splendid fireworks show that out
didanyI’ve ever seen before.
Music Festival
Sinceallflightsoutoftheairport
were not possible due towinddirection,
thecompetitionmoneywassplit among
theparticipatingpilots.Severalofthe
seniorcompetitors (and brave hearts) flew
in toth eairp o rtl aun chi ngfro m
Brookhaven National Labs, several miles
northofthefield.Allcrossedthefield
straightdownthe middle andlandedon
the balloon launchfield. Congrats to Phil
Glebe,BruceBussey,SteveDavisand
GaryCassforthrillingthecrowd(and
themselves) with the fly-ins.
Thefestivalhashadthreewonder-
fullysuccessfulyearswithcreativebal-
looningtakingover where standardfree
flights have been impossible. Where nor-
mally a balloon pilot would want to fly his
passengers for an hourand land in a smooth
grassyfield,thissiteoffersthe opportu-
nitytoearn more money thanispossible
withflying.The“walkabout”balloons
were plentiful and the tethered rides went
onforever.Everyonewaspleased,the
crowd saw balloons and sponsor banners
all day, the pilots who tethered for endless
linesandmostofall,thehundredsof
thousands of spectators who had a perfect
weekend, great music and lots of balloons
on the field.
ThisisoneeventI’mlookingfor-
ward to returning too.
