Preparations are in full-swing at the Vermilion Regional Airport for the second annual Balloons Over Vermilion. It is taking place on Friday and Saturday, July 14th and 15th at the airport.
Pat O’Shaughnessy, Chairman of Balloons Over Vermilion, says there will be 30 normal-shaped balloons participating. ‘’It’s the same amount as last year. We have two special shaped balloons coming back again. Pete the Pirate peg-legged parrot is coming back. And then…the big red elephant is coming back, too. And then we have two tethered balloons,’’ said O’Shaughnessy. ‘’Tony Sandlin from Indianapolis, who had the handicapped-accessible balloon last year that flew the young man – the first handicapped individual to fly over Vermilion County – he’s coming back to do tethered rides. And he’s bringing his second balloon and handicapped-accessible basket.’’
O’Shaughnessy says the pilots come from all over the Midwest…but about one-third of those who will be flying live in Vermilion or Champaign county.
The event begins at 3:00 p.m. Friday (July 14th) at the Vermilion Regional Airport. Hours for Balloons Over Vermilion are from 3:00 p.m. until midnight on Friday and 1:00 p.m. until midnight on Saturday (July 15th, 2017).
And you can see some hot air balloons on Thursday (July 13th) at the Danville Boat Club’s balloon event over Lake Vermilion. Ten hot air balloons are scheduled to take part in the Splash-n-Dash in which the balloon pilots will compete to hit a target on the water. Doors will open at the Boat Club at 5:00 p.m. Thursday and the general public is invited to view the event from the dock or lakefront. (It’s suggested that you bring your lawn chairs if you plan to sit on the lakefront.)
Admission to the Boat Club’s event is $5 per person. Children 12 and under are admitted free. Food will be available for purchase including Italian Beef with chips for $7 or Pulled Pork Sandwich and chips for $5
