WFEC co-sponsors first local balloon festival
The Touchstone Energy® hot air balloon will soon be one of many balloons floating above Washington County during the first annual Northwest Florida Hot Air Balloon Festival. Local Touchstone Energy® cooperatives West Florida Electric and Gulf Coast Electric are proud to co-sponsor the festival, which will be held just off Orange Hill Road in Chipley May 3 – 5.
Festival-goers will have the opportunity to witness spectacular hot air balloon ascensions and, for a fee, can even experience free-flight or tethered balloon rides. The event will feature skydiving demonstrations by the School of Human Flight, performances by the Alain Zerbini Circus, entertainment by local musicians, arts and crafts, concessions, helicopter rides, pony rides and more. Saturday, the balloons will light up the skyline during a spectacular Nightglow beginning at dusk, and the Atlanta Rhythm Section will take the stage at 4 p. m.
Tickets are $15 each for adults and $5 for children age 6 to 12. Weekend passes are $25 for adults and $8 for children. RV camping packages are available; parking is free. For additional information or to purchase tickets, call the Washington County Tourist Development Council at (850)535-9779 or log on to www.washcomall.com/balloon.
The festival is expected to draw between 20,000 and 30,000 visitors from within a 150-mile radius. "The attendees will no doubt be spending lots of money with our local merchants, and WFEC supports any opportunity to strengthen our local economy and our local businesses," said Gary Clark, WFEC Vice President of Marketing and Member Services. "The Touchstone Energy® hot air balloon is a wonderful way to familiarize festival patrons with our cooperative’s and their values," added Michael White, Gulf Coast EC Manager of Marketing and Member Services.
The 69,000 cubic-foot Touchstone Energy® hot air balloon measures 72 feet tall and 53 feet wide when fully inflated and is a professionally flown and managed, competitive balloon operated by Cooperative Balloon Associates, LLC. Touchstone Energy® is a nationwide alliance of more than 560 consumer-owned, locally-operated utilities, including WFEC, that provide high quality, affordable service to customers and their communities.
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