In taking one more look at this past weekend’s Balloons Over Vermilion at Vermilion Regional Airport: it was really a perfect Saturday; from the balloons that woke Vermilion County up with their morning flight, to the balloons that took off shortly after dinnertime, to the traditional glow. Danville Area Convention and Visitors’ Bureau CEO Jeanie Cook said it’s always wonderful to just sit back and take it all in.
AUDIO: It is the same feeling every year. And to be able to get these balloons up tonight; Mother Nature has been kind. It’s such a gorgeous site. And so many people have come out to watch, it just really puts a smile in your heart.
A couple visiting for the first time from the Champaign-Urbana area, with their two-year-old daughter, was glad to come home.
AUDIO: Emma from Urbana. (Urbana! Do you come here every year?) No, this is our first year. (What do you think?) It’s great, I think it’s wonderful. We’re from Danville. So, it’s nice to come home; and see something good in the community. (Great, to hear. What’s your name, sir?) My name’s David. I’m from Urbana as well, originally from here. Yes, having a great time out here. Having a lot of fun; looking to check out some balloons.
When things were just getting going Friday, we had a chance to speak with Pat O’Shaughnessy. He may not be in charge of Balloons Over Vermilion anymore; but he was there beaming with pride.
AUDIO: (What to you think when you come out here and see everything rolling, after all these years of making this the tradition it is?) This is Danville, and I start to get cracked up actually. People start to roll in; we’ve got beautiful weather tonight, we’ll see what happens at 6 o’clock, if we get to fly. We certainly will glow tonight. We spent two weeks setting up, and it’s time to show it all to Vermilion County.
News story here.
