It’s a competition for hot-air balloonists, but it’s a good and free time for everyone else.
The Galesburg Great Balloon Race lands at Lake Storey Park later Friday afternoon, and continues as late as Sunday morning. There will be chances to meet the balloonists and see their rides up close, with other activities for children, and food also available.
But, what about the race part?
“We lay an X out on a field, and the balloons try to fly and over and throw a bean bag with a long tail on it, and throw it at the center of the X,” said Greg Saul, organizer. “Closest to the X wins.”
Saul tells Galesburg’s Morning News on WGIL the winners of the races of the around 26 competitors get cash prizes, with competing at various times during the weekend. The X’s have already been sort-of mapped out.
But, there are also events for the public. Saul says having the children get up close and personal with the balloons may be its own reward.
“We say that’s our payment for the weekend, for my wife and I,” said Saul. “We do the night glows, and then we let the people come out on the field and meet with the pilots and things like that. When we hit the burner, the kids’ eyes just are just bigger than life.”
Night glows of the balloons, weather permitting, are Friday night and Saturday night at dusk.
But there’s other events for kids as well, run in part by the local Regional Office of Education.
The events for families are free, but Saul says there will be food on site, so you’ll need to bring money for that.
The featured balloon this year is called “Smiley Scarecrow” — a hot-air balloon shaped like a scarecrow.