Up, up and away
Jul. 10—Serene; that is how I would describe my ride through the clouds over Vermilion County last Saturday evening. My invitation came from the Balloons Over Vermilion committee. I had never been up in a hot air balloon, nor have I had the pleasure of attending the festival, yet. The amount of precision, training, and confidence that the balloon pilots displayed put my mind at ease as I climbed into the basket and prepared for my journey across the skies. As I left home that evening to prepare for my flight, my kids and husband said "Bye" without looking away from the television. I thought, "Have they not seen the hot air balloon mishaps on TikTok? Aren't they afraid I may die!" I can assure you I didn't die, not even close. As we hit 500 feet above the ground, I was amazed at not only the view below of lush grass and green trees but the intricate design and layout of the Danville National Cemetery and how carefully each memorial was placed. It was so quiet above the trees. We could hear people below yelling "Hello" to us from their cars and yards. We waved to people who stopped on side roads to take photos of Dean Carlton's Wagz balloon. As we continued to fly along, Dean pointed out different areas of town and possible landing sites. I will admit, I was anxious to return to my family and let them know I did indeed live through my experience, but I also wanted to stay up in the sky. In the sky I was unavailable. Dean was an excellent pilot and knowledgeable about his craft, but it was something else to stand in the silence and take it all in, the views, the sounds ... the peace. As we landed — smoothly I might add — I talked to Dean about why he chose the hobby sport of ballooning. "My first experience with balloons was the Balloon Classic in 1989," he said. He and his wife, Angie, crewed for a few years and were bitten by the balloon bug. Crewing is helping on the ground with the balloon launch and retrieval. Eric Osborn and his family volunteered to help with crewing on Saturday. The Covington family enjoys helping with the groundwork for the balloons. "I'm still pretty new," Eric said. "I started (crewing) last year. I was around balloons when I was younger. My dad did a lot of crop dusting and people would bring balloons in (to the airport). It was intriguing. Whenever you see them you got to stop and watch them." Dean has two balloons, Wagz, which is five years old, and Barx, which is newer. "The balloon life is about 20 years," he said. "The fabric wears out." For the Carltons — whose son Ryan, is a pilot — the joy in ballooning is sharing it with others. "Sharing the experience with others, that's really what I like." Dean said, "And being able to share our really great flying area with all my friends from all over the nation that come here." Balloon pilots from Florida, Missouri, Iowa, and Kentucky will make their way to Vermilion County for this year's Balloons Over Vermilion festival on July 12-13. "We will have 33 different balloons," Dean said. "Twenty-nine will be regular and two will be special shapes." If you are on the fence about taking flight, tethered balloon rides will be offered for $15. For these rides, the balloons are tethered and the riders go up with a pilot and then back down. Balloon rides will be offered weather permitting. If heights are not your thing, Dean says there is something for everyone at the festival including entertainment, a kids' area, fair food, and of course the balloon glow. "Everyone that attends turns into a little kid," he said. "The awe and wonder is just magnificent and the glow is the best." The balloon glow will happen nightly, weather permitting. For the glow, each pilot will light up their respective balloon and allow guests to admire them from a safe distance. Balloon pilot Ed Devore will showcase his balloon Papa's Joy at the festival. Devore started crewing in 2010 and earned his pilot's license in 2021. "It was exciting; it was an adventure," Devore said of his chosen hobby sport. "(Ballooning) is extremely interesting, and I enjoy the challenge. "Danville is fortunate to have a very high number of pilots. Vermilion County is a great place to fly. We have lakes and park areas to fly from and to that, you don't get in other places." David Boesdorfer has been a pilot for nine years. He says the hardest thing about flying is finding a place to land. Where the wind goes, so goes the balloon. Devore invites the community to the festival on Friday evening to learn more about the balloons and their pilots. "On Friday you get to come out and be at the basket, ask questions, and talk to the pilots," he said. "It's like a carnival. Families can come together and have a good evening. It's not just a balloon flight, it's a family affair." Admission to Balloons Over Vermilion is $5 per person, 10 and under are free with each paid adult. There is a $5 per vehicle parking fee or $25 per RV. Today, July 11, the Danville Boat Club will have its annual Balloon Splash and Dash Party to kick off Balloons Over Vermilion. This event is separate from the Balloons Over Vermilion festival. Ten balloons will fly over Lake Vermilion and try to hit a target on the water. This event is weather permitting. For the safety of the pilots and occupants, balloons do not fly when the wind is greater than 10 mph.
Serene; that is how I would describe my ride through the clouds over Vermilion County last Saturday evening.
My invitation came from the Balloons Over Vermilion committee. I had never been up in a hot air balloon, nor have I had the pleasure of attending the festival, yet. The amount of precision, training, and confidence that the balloon pilots displayed put my mind at ease as I climbed into the basket and prepared for my journey across the skies.
As I left home that evening to prepare for my flight, my kids and husband said "Bye" without looking away from the television.
I thought, "Have they not seen the hot air balloon mishaps on TikTok? Aren't they afraid I may die!"
I can assure you I didn't die, not even close.
As we hit 500 feet above the ground, I was amazed at not only the view below of lush grass and green trees but the intricate design and layout of the Danville National Cemetery and how carefully each memorial was placed.
It was so quiet above the trees. We could hear people below yelling "Hello" to us from their cars and yards. We waved to people who stopped on side roads to take photos of Dean Carlton's Wagz balloon. As we continued to fly along, Dean pointed out different areas of town and possible landing sites.
I will admit, I was anxious to return to my family and let them know I did indeed live through my experience, but I also wanted to stay up in the sky. In the sky I was unavailable.
Dean was an excellent pilot and knowledgeable about his craft, but it was something else to stand in the silence and take it all in, the views, the sounds ... the peace.
As we landed — smoothly I might add — I talked to Dean about why he chose the hobby sport of ballooning.
"My first experience with balloons was the Balloon Classic in 1989," he said. He and his wife, Angie, crewed for a few years and were bitten by the balloon bug.
Crewing is helping on the ground with the balloon launch and retrieval.
Eric Osborn and his family volunteered to help with crewing on Saturday. The Covington family enjoys helping with the groundwork for the balloons.
"I'm still pretty new," Eric said. "I started (crewing) last year. I was around balloons when I was younger. My dad did a lot of crop dusting and people would bring balloons in (to the airport). It was intriguing. Whenever you see them you got to stop and watch them."
Dean has two balloons, Wagz, which is five years old, and Barx, which is newer.
"The balloon life is about 20 years," he said. "The fabric wears out."
For the Carltons — whose son Ryan, is a pilot — the joy in ballooning is sharing it with others.
"Sharing the experience with others, that's really what I like." Dean said, "And being able to share our really great flying area with all my friends from all over the nation that come here."
Balloon pilots from Florida, Missouri, Iowa, and Kentucky will make their way to Vermilion County for this year's Balloons Over Vermilion festival on July 12-13.
"We will have 33 different balloons," Dean said. "Twenty-nine will be regular and two will be special shapes."
If you are on the fence about taking flight, tethered balloon rides will be offered for $15. For these rides, the balloons are tethered and the riders go up with a pilot and then back down.
Balloon rides will be offered weather permitting.
If heights are not your thing, Dean says there is something for everyone at the festival including entertainment, a kids' area, fair food, and of course the balloon glow.
"Everyone that attends turns into a little kid," he said. "The awe and wonder is just magnificent and the glow is the best."
The balloon glow will happen nightly, weather permitting. For the glow, each pilot will light up their respective balloon and allow guests to admire them from a safe distance.
Balloon pilot Ed Devore will showcase his balloon Papa's Joy at the festival. Devore started crewing in 2010 and earned his pilot's license in 2021.
"It was exciting; it was an adventure," Devore said of his chosen hobby sport. "(Ballooning) is extremely interesting, and I enjoy the challenge.
"Danville is fortunate to have a very high number of pilots. Vermilion County is a great place to fly. We have lakes and park areas to fly from and to that, you don't get in other places."
David Boesdorfer has been a pilot for nine years. He says the hardest thing about flying is finding a place to land. Where the wind goes, so goes the balloon.
Devore invites the community to the festival on Friday evening to learn more about the balloons and their pilots.
"On Friday you get to come out and be at the basket, ask questions, and talk to the pilots," he said. "It's like a carnival. Families can come together and have a good evening. It's not just a balloon flight, it's a family affair."
Admission to Balloons Over Vermilion is $5 per person, 10 and under are free with each paid adult. There is a $5 per vehicle parking fee or $25 per RV.
Today, July 11, the Danville Boat Club will have its annual Balloon Splash and Dash Party to kick off Balloons Over Vermilion. This event is separate from the Balloons Over Vermilion festival.
Ten balloons will fly over Lake Vermilion and try to hit a target on the water. This event is weather permitting. For the safety of the pilots and occupants, balloons do not fly when the wind is greater than 10 mph.