First annual Hot Air Balloon Glo Festival attracts thousands
Published 5:25 pm Friday, September 20, 2024
- The first ever Balloon Glo Festival was held Sep. 14 in Bridge City. (Sierra Kondos/Orange Leader)
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By Sierra Kondos
Special to The Orange Leader
Bridge City, Texas- Thousands of Southeast Texans swarmed the Bridge City Elementary and Intermediate school grounds to experience the first annual Hot Air Balloon Glo Festival Saturday, Sep. 14, 2024.
The five-hour festival showcased ten hot air balloons, with one available for festival-goers to pay to be floated a few feet up in the bucket.
A tethered hot air balloon took festival-goers up into the air at the Balloon Glo Festival. (Sierra Kondos/Orange Leader)
“The event is the first of its kind, inspired by a similar experience in another state,” Mandy Lyda, Bridge City Chamber of Commerce Director said. “I wanted to bring it to the Golden Triangle and offer it right here in our community as a fundraiser for the Chamber of Commerce. The turnout exceeded expectations.”
The event included food vendors, shopping, inflatables, a petting zoo, and two local bands. No outside food or drinks were allowed, and parking was available at local churches and schools. The event was not pet-friendly, but service dogs were welcome.
Local bands Running on Credit and the Jamie Nichols Band provided live music at the event. (Sierra Kondos/Orange Leader)
“The owners of the hot air balloons are from Louisiana,” she said. “They drove about four hours to be there, and two local bands performed on stage, The Jamie Nichols Band and Running on Credit.”
Attendees were encouraged to bring blankets or lawn chairs to watch the performances.
