MONROE - Two back-to-back hot air balloon events are returning to the skies over Monroe this June.
It starts with the U.S. Open National Championships Saturday, June 8 to Tuesday, June 11. This event is geared toward seasoned pilots but residents in the area will be able to watch the hot-air balloonists complete their challenges in the early mornings and at dusk.
The locally organized 28th Annual Monroe Balloon Rally is scheduled Father's Day weekend - Friday, June 14 and Saturday, June 15 - and will take place at the Green County Fairgrounds. It offers a carnival, car show, tethered balloon flights, concessions and other activities besides balloon-watching.
If the weather cooperates, Championships organizer Maury Petrehn expects balloons to fly starting Wednesday, June 5 and continue almost two weeks.
"You have to be real flexible with the weather," he said.
Another variable besides weather is sponsorship. The hot air balloon championships made their debut last year in Monroe and were to continue later in the summer in Peoria, Ill. But Petrehn had to cancel the Peoria events, he said, due to a lack of sponsorship.
"We never actually got to complete the championships last year," he said. This year, all championship challenges will take place in Monroe, and pilots who participated last year will get to compete for the overall 2012/2013 title.
Petrehn said he has about 10 pilots signed up so far and expects 20 to 28 overall to compete. Balloon rides will be available by reservation starting June 5.
The hurdle now is finding the financial support. Petrehn, who lives in Kansas, said he is putting up $20,000 to $30,000 of his own money up-front for the event and seeking sponsorships to recoup it.
To find out more about the Monroe Balloon Rally and the U.S. Open National Championships, visit monroeballoonrally.com and open-championships.com.
It starts with the U.S. Open National Championships Saturday, June 8 to Tuesday, June 11. This event is geared toward seasoned pilots but residents in the area will be able to watch the hot-air balloonists complete their challenges in the early mornings and at dusk.
The locally organized 28th Annual Monroe Balloon Rally is scheduled Father's Day weekend - Friday, June 14 and Saturday, June 15 - and will take place at the Green County Fairgrounds. It offers a carnival, car show, tethered balloon flights, concessions and other activities besides balloon-watching.
If the weather cooperates, Championships organizer Maury Petrehn expects balloons to fly starting Wednesday, June 5 and continue almost two weeks.
"You have to be real flexible with the weather," he said.
Another variable besides weather is sponsorship. The hot air balloon championships made their debut last year in Monroe and were to continue later in the summer in Peoria, Ill. But Petrehn had to cancel the Peoria events, he said, due to a lack of sponsorship.
"We never actually got to complete the championships last year," he said. This year, all championship challenges will take place in Monroe, and pilots who participated last year will get to compete for the overall 2012/2013 title.
Petrehn said he has about 10 pilots signed up so far and expects 20 to 28 overall to compete. Balloon rides will be available by reservation starting June 5.
The hurdle now is finding the financial support. Petrehn, who lives in Kansas, said he is putting up $20,000 to $30,000 of his own money up-front for the event and seeking sponsorships to recoup it.
To find out more about the Monroe Balloon Rally and the U.S. Open National Championships, visit monroeballoonrally.com and open-championships.com.