Chairmen Plan 9Th Annual Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 17, 2013 Kristin Roberson, Marketing & Events Manager 943-5590, [email protected]

Chairmen Plan 9th Annual Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival

Watch the skies as more than forty five beautiful hot air balloons fly over Foley throughout Father’s Day weekend. Festival committee members are finalizing plans for the 9th Annual Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival, presented by Tanger Outlets. The festival is set for June 14 – 15 at the Foley Sports Park on Hwy.98, just west of Foley. Start your Father’s Day Weekend on Thursday and enjoy a hot air balloon glow June 13 at 6:30 p.m. on the Tanger Outlets property.

“The 9th Annual Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival is just over a month away. This year’s committee along with many volunteers has worked extremely hard to put together another wonderful family event for Father’s Day Weekend,” says Festival Chairman, Russ Moore. “Bringing your family to the festival makes for memorable, fun filled weekend. Bring your lawn chairs or spread out a blanket and enjoy the beautiful balloon glow on Friday and Saturday evening. It is a breath taking experience seeing the colorful balloons flying around the festival grounds and lighting up the night skies. Plus, guests this year will have the opportunity to purchase a ride in a hot air balloon. Limited quantities are being sold for the Friday and Saturday night events, so be sure to take advantage of balloon ride pre-sales by visiting www.gulfcoastballoonfestival.com or stop by the Chamber office.”

Moore goes on to say, “While the hot air balloon pilots are the stars of our show, enjoy a wide variety of activities that will interest everyone in the family. Our local artisans and crafts offer many unique treasures. The free Kid’s Fun Zone will be rockin’ this year with live kid’s entertainment by Babin’s House of Party. Be sure to catch one of the multiple performances by the high flying Disc Connected K-9’s Frisbee Dog Team. Music lovers will enjoy our exciting performance lineup featuring The Tip Tops on Saturday night and many others.”

A highlight of the festival is the balloon glow and hot air balloon rides scheduled for Friday and Saturday night from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m., weather permitting. For those planning to attend the night events, festival organizers recommend visitors arrive before 3:00 p.m. to beat festival traffic and find a perfect location to view the festivities. Hot air balloon tether rides can be pre-purchased at gulfcoastballoonfestival.com or by visiting the Chamber office. A limited number of rides will be available for purchase.

A hot air balloon competition will also take place on Saturday morning at 6:00 a.m. Hot air balloons can only fly when the winds are very still, usually early morning and late afternoon.

Although the balloons are absent during the middle of the day, there is plenty at the festival for the entire family to enjoy. This year’s event will feature an interactive hot air balloon display. Visitors will have the opportunity to walk inside the colorful envelope of the hot air balloon and get an inside view of how the hot air balloons operate. Music lovers will be delighted at the variety of live entertainment including Rhythm Intervention and rising country music artist, Holli Mosely beginning Friday at 4:30 p.m. Saturday starting at 1:00 p.m., enjoy performances by Category 4, Dan Eubanks Band and at 8:30 p.m., local favorites, The Tip Tops.

Festival organizers encourage visitors to take advantage the free shuttle service from Tanger Outlet Center, running Friday and Saturday from 2:00-10:30 p.m. Onsite parking is also available for $5 per day on the festival grounds, allowing unlimited entry within the same day.

A complete listing of the festival and shuttle schedules can be found on www.gulfcoastballoonfestival.com, by finding Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival on Facebook or visiting the South Baldwin Chamber of Commerce, 112 W. Laurel Avenue in Foley.

Balloon Festival committee chairs include; Lindsay Schumacher, State Farm Frances Holk-Jones Insurance Co. – Balloon Crew; Angie Johnston, Ebert Agency – Immediate Past Chair/Beverage & Souvenirs; Chris Rea, Taking Off Hot Air Balloon Co. – Assistant Balloon Meister; Ray Belew, The Master’s Butler – VIP Tent; Charlie Fisher – Vendor/Volunteer Relations, Tommy Rachel, Taking Off Hot Air Balloon Co. – Balloon Meister; Sgt. Tony Nelson, Foley Police Department – Traffic Control; Aaron

P.O. Box 1117 | Foley, Alabama 36536 | tel: 251.943.3291 | fax: 251.943.6810 | www.southbaldwinchamber.com Enhancing the economy by providing information, services, leadership and vision. Hobbs – Parking Chair; Steve Bailey, Suncoast Builders – Land-Owner Relations; Lt. David White, Foley Police Department – Traffic Control; Russ Moore, Foley High School – Festival Chair; William Burgett, Riviera Utilities – Traffic Control; Chief Joey Darby, Foley Fire Dept. – Traffic Control, Bonnie Blaylock, Foley Performing Arts – Artist Liason; Glenn Manning, Manning Jewelry – Beer & Wine; Christina Weaver, State Farm Frances Holk-Jones Ins. Co – Beer & Wine; Gene Moore, Security Finance – Gulf Coast Rising Star Talent Competition; Lt. Tony Fuqua, Foley Police Dept. – Traffic Control; Carl Majors, Foley High School – Parking; Sarah Chastang – Gulf Coast Rising Start Talent Competition Co-Chair; Linda Brokaw, ERA Class.com – VIP Tent; Kerry Slota, Southern Light – Competition Scoring; Jim Griffiths, Harvard Risk Management – Beverage/Souvenir.

P.O. Box 1117 | Foley, Alabama 36536 | tel: 251.943.3291 | fax: 251.943.6810 | www.southbaldwinchamber.com Enhancing the economy by providing information, services, leadership and vision.