2009 Ballunar Liftoff Festival

This weekend I am headed to Houston, Texas for the 16th annual RE/MAX Ballunar Liftoff Festival at the NASA-Johnson Space Center. The three-day event is October 23rd-25th and presented by the City of Nassau Bay.

The festival is a non-profit, educational event to help the public learn about aviation and space exploration, and to interest young people in math and science through the study of aviation and space.

You may recall Hurricane Ike was in town at this time last year, so this will be the first year for the event since that devastating hurricane.

Cost to attend the festival is $10 per vehicle, which includes free on-site parking at the Johnson Space Center.

To my knowledge, “Balloon Boy” and other members of the Heene family will not be present, nor will the remnants of their experimental flying saucer.

Here is an official press release from August announcing the 2009 festival.

RE/MAX Ballunar Liftoff Festival Sets NASA Launch Date

August 24, 2009

Houston, TX – Houston’s most exciting and entertaining outdoor family event is preparing to blast off from the NASA/Johnson Space Center this October 23-25, as the RE/MAX Ballunar Liftoff Festival fills the skies above Clear Lake for the 16th annual tribute to mankind’s fascination with flight. A seasonal event favorite of southeast Texas, the RE/MAX Ballunar Festival is making a triumphant return after its 2008 cancellation due to Hurricane Ike.

In partnership with the City of Nassau Bay, the weekend celebration features approximately 75 giant hot air balloons piloted by the world’s most skilled aerial navigators, punctuated by daylong skydiving exhibitions, para-gliders & hang-gliders, all set in a carnival atmosphere with food, crafts, a Midway with rides, and ongoing live musical entertainment.“Aside from the most entertaining, this is the autumn’s most affordable family entertainment,” said Steve Lombardi, the festival’s co-founder and director of balloon operations.  “For $10 per vehicle, and with free onsite parking at Johnson Space Center, why not load up the neighbors kids and come to an outing that’s both educational and fun?  There’s a NASA mini-tour included on Saturday, giving a close-up look at the space station mock-ups and astronaut training facilities, with real NASA Astronauts signing autographs!”

A Houston tradition produced by hundreds of volunteers, the non-profit RE/MAX Ballunar Liftoff Festival sprouted wings in 1993 to commemorate the 200th anniversary of manned flight in America, and has grown into a hallmark event that encourages young people’s interest in math and science through the study of aeronautics.  Nassau Bay, the traditional hometown for the engineers and pilots who pioneered the American exploration of space, has given partnership support in bringing the festival to an ever-wider audience of families.

“Gates open on Friday at 6:00pm followed by high-energy live music and entertainment, carnival rides, food and a mass balloon glow at 8:15pm,” said Lombardi.  “The 7:30 am Lockheed Martin Shuttle Rendezvous (balloon navigational competition) kicks off Saturday morning, followed by skydivers and air sport activities all day long. Visitors can check the Ballunar Festival website for a complete schedule of activities and directions.”

“From the earliest form of flight, to the technological marvels of modern aviation and space travel, this festival has it all,” Lombardi concluded.  “Get the kids and your camera, and join us for the most exciting way to enjoy the cool autumn air and the wonders of flight.”

Are you attending this year’s event? If so, let me know! Let’s meet-up. Leave a comment, shoot me an e-mail, or connect with me on Twitter.

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