BROOKINGS — Come July, there’s going to be more hot air than normal in the skies above Brookings with the arrival of the Balloons Over Brookings event, which is set for July 17-19.
Residents got a glimpse of what the event — which is still in its planning stages — might look like on April 10 at the Dacotah Bank Center, when a balloon was inflated and floated into the sky during the Jackrabbit Stampede Rodeo. At the helm was Huron resident Dan Strutz, who is a balloon pilot and one of the event’s organizers.
“The flight gave people in Brookings a chance to see a balloon in action and offered a preview of the kind of excitement that is coming later this summer,” he told The Brookings Register.
Balloons Over Brookings is expected to take place at the Fishback Soccer Complex at 1100 20th St. S. starting the evening of July 17 and continuing into the morning hours of July 19.
“The event is being organized to bring hot air balloons to town for the community to enjoy and to build a fun, family friendly summer attraction for Brookings and the surrounding area,” Strutz said.
He said the plan is to have 10 to 15 balloons take part this year, with a goal of having additional balloons in the years ahead.
The event is being presented by the South Dakota Balloon Network in partnership with Pheasantland Balloons and 605 Balloon Ride. There’s no cost to attend, and the best viewing takes place at sunrise and again toward the early evening hours.
“Balloons Over Brookings is built to be simple, safe, and memorable — one of those weekends where you look up and say, ‘Yep … that’s pretty amazing,’” according to the event’s website, https://tinyurl.com/nc9934nw.
Guests can expect the following activities, weather permitting:
• Morning balloon launches at sunrise July 18-19.
• Evening balloon activities July 17-18.
• The balloons might not fly if weather conditions aren’t permissible.
“Come early to watch balloon inflation — it’s half the fun,” per the website. “Please respect safety boundaries and follow volunteer direction.”
Specifically, the schedule calls for:
July 17
• 6:30 p.m.: Evening balloon launch.
• Balloon glow at dusk. “This is when we set up the balloons on the field at dusk (staying grounded), and make the balloons look like giant lanterns,” Strutz said.
July 18
• 6 a.m.: Morning balloon launch.
• 6:30 p.m.: Evening balloon launch.
• Balloon glow at dusk.
July 19
• 6 a.m.: Morning balloon launch.
For folks who plan to go, it’s suggested they arrive 30 minutes prior to the sunrise launch window. Evening activities are expected to draw crowds as well, so it’s best to “come early for parking and a good spot.” Feel free to bring lawn chairs and blankets, too, but “be considerate of sightlines and keep walkways clear.”
And, no, drones are not allowed. “Drones create a serious safety hazard for balloons and pilots,” event organizers said.
While Balloons Over Brookings has snagged some sponsors, Strutz told the Register that it could always use more.
“We have had some remarkable sponsors partner with us, but we could still use several sponsors of all sizes to partner with to round out some of the other items we hope to add to the event,” he said. “Businesses or individuals are welcome to reach out.”
Volunteers are being sought for a variety of roles as well, including balloon flight crews; parking and traffic flow; guest information/welcome table; and setup, teardown and clean up. If that interests readers, reach out to Strutz at [email protected] or via its Facebook page, Balloons Over Brookings.
In closing, with the logistics starting to fall into place, all that’s left for the community to do is watch the weather and wait for the horizon to fill with color.
Whether you’re a seasoned spectator or a first timer, the mid-July weekend carries the promise of transforming the local skyline into a vibrant display of flight — and it could be the start of a new summer tradition that’ll keep eyes turned upward for years to come.
— Contact Mondell Keck at [email protected].
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