Balloonfest '86 was a 1986 event in Cleveland, Ohio, United States, in which the local chapter of United Way set a world record by releasing almost 1.5 million balloons.[2] The event took place on September 27, 1986, and was intended to be a harmless fundraisingpublicity stunt, but the balloons drifted back over the city, Lake Erie, and landed in the surrounding area, causing problems for traffic and a nearby airport. The event also interfered with a United States Coast Guard search for two boaters who were later found drowned.[1] In consequence, the organizers and the city faced lawsuits seeking millions of dollars in damages,[1] and cost overruns put the event at a net loss.[3]
The stunt was coordinated by a Los Angeles-based company headed by Treb Heining, Balloonart by Treb, which spent six months preparing for it. A rectangular structure the size of a city block was set up to hold the balloons on the southwest quadrant of Cleveland's Public Square. It measured 250 feet (76 m) by 150 feet (46 m), was three stories high and was covered with a one-piece net of woven mesh material.[2][3][4] Inside, 2,500 volunteers, consisting largely of high school students, spent many hours filling the balloons with helium. One described the preparations as "like an assembly line, non-stop." Volunteers received free T-shirts.[1][3][5][6]
United Way originally planned to release two million balloons, but eventually stopped at over 1.4 million.[4] Children sold sponsorships to benefit United Way at the price of $1 for every two balloons.[4]
Launch
On Saturday, September 27, 1986, with a rainstorm approaching, organizers decided on an early release of the balloons at about 1:50 p.m. EDT. A crowd of over 100,000 gathered in downtown Cleveland for the event.[7] Close to 1.5 million balloons rose up from Public Square, surrounding Terminal Tower and surpassing a world record set the previous year on the 30th anniversary of Disneyland.[1]
Consequences
Typically, a helium-filled latex balloon that is released outdoors will stay aloft long enough to be fully deflated before it descends to Earth.[8] However, the Balloonfest balloons collided with a front of cool air and rain, which caused them to drop towards the ground while still inflated. The descending balloons clogged the land and waterways of Northeast Ohio. In the days following the event, many balloons were reported washed ashore on the Canadian side of Lake Erie causing water pollution.[6] Some people had misconceptions about the environmental impact of balloon releases, thinking that "the balloons would reach an altitude where they popped and disintegrated."[7]
Burke Lakefront Airport had to shut down a runway for half an hour after balloons landed there.[1][3] Traffic collisions were also reported "as drivers swerved to avoid slow motion blizzards of multicolored orbs or took their eyes off the road to gawk at the overhead spectacle".[3] Motorists on the Cleveland Memorial Shoreway ran into fences and each other before the roadway was shut down. A bulldozer was needed to help clear away the balloons.[7]
Two fishermen, Raymond Broderick and Bernard Sulzer, who had gone out on September 26, were reported missing by their families on the day of the event. Rescuers spotted their 16-foot (4.9 m) boat anchored west of the Edgewater Park breakwall. A Coast Guard search and rescue helicopter crew had difficulties reaching the area because of the "asteroid field" of balloons.[9] A search-and-rescue boat crew tried to spot the fishermen floating in the lake, but Guard officials said balloons in the water made it impossible to see whether anyone was in the lake.[1] On September 29, the Coast Guard suspended its search. The fishermen's bodies subsequently washed ashore. The wife of one of the fishermen sued the United Way of Cleveland and the company that organized the balloon release for $3.2 million and later settled on undisclosed terms.[1]
Balloons landing on a pasture in Medina County, Ohio, spooked Louise Nowakowski's Arabian horses, which allegedly suffered permanent injuries as a result. Nowakowski sued the United Way of Cleveland for $100,000 in damages and settled for undisclosed terms.[1]
The fundraiser lost money due to cost overruns.[5]
Legacy
The 1988 edition of The Guinness Book of World Records recognizes the event as a world record "largest ever mass balloon release", with 1,429,643 balloons launched.[10][11] Because of the damage caused, Guinness no longer measures environmentally unsound events like balloon releases.[citation needed]
Balloonfest '86 was the subject of the 2018 short documentary film Balloonfest.[12]
References
^ abcdefghiKroll, John (August 15, 2011). "Balloonfest 1986, the spectacle that became a debacle: Cleveland Remembers". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved March 15, 2014.
^ abBellamy, Gail Ghetia (2013). Cleveland Summertime Memories: A Warm Look Back. Gray & Company. p. 65. ISBN1938441508.
^ abcdeO'Malley, Michael (September 26, 2011). "25 years ago, thousands watched a balloon launch on Public Square". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved May 5, 2014.
^ abcMcCormack, Simon (April 24, 2014). "Releasing 1.5 Million Balloons Into The Air Is A Bad Idea". The Huffington Post. Retrieved May 4, 2014.
^ abO'Malley, Michael (September 26, 2011). "25 years ago, thousands watched a balloon launch on Public Square". The Plain Dealer.
^ abLivingston, Tom (August 8, 2013). . WEWS. Archived from the original on October 18, 2015. Retrieved March 15, 2014.
^ abcStratford, Suzanne (September 27, 2021). "Cleveland marks 35 years since 1.5 million balloons fell on city in disastrous balloonfest". News 4 Buffalo. Nexstar Media Wire.
^Burchette, D. "Balloon HQ Presents: Balloon Releases and the Environment". www.balloonhq.com. Retrieved April 15, 2018.
^Kushins, Jordan (April 22, 2014). "That Time Cleveland Released 1.5 Million Balloons and Chaos Ensued". Gizmodo. Retrieved May 5, 2014.
The doomed Cleveland balloonfest of '86 on YouTube
Balloonfest is the subject of an episode of the American History comedy podcast The Dollop
February 02, 2023
balloonfest, 1986, event, cleveland, ohio, united, states, which, local, chapter, united, world, record, releasing, almost, million, balloons, event, took, place, september, 1986, intended, harmless, fundraising, publicity, stunt, balloons, drifted, back, over. Balloonfest 86 was a 1986 event in Cleveland Ohio United States in which the local chapter of United Way set a world record by releasing almost 1 5 million balloons 2 The event took place on September 27 1986 and was intended to be a harmless fundraising publicity stunt but the balloons drifted back over the city Lake Erie and landed in the surrounding area causing problems for traffic and a nearby airport The event also interfered with a United States Coast Guard search for two boaters who were later found drowned 1 In consequence the organizers and the city faced lawsuits seeking millions of dollars in damages 1 and cost overruns put the event at a net loss 3 Balloonfest 86DateSeptember 27 1986 1986 09 27 TimeAround 1 50 PM EDTLocationPublic Square Cleveland Ohio U S Coordinates41 29 59 N 81 41 38 W 41 49972 N 81 69389 W 41 49972 81 69389 Coordinates 41 29 59 N 81 41 38 W 41 49972 N 81 69389 W 41 49972 81 69389Organized byUnited Way of ClevelandOutcomeWorld record for simultaneous release of balloons 1 Deaths2 indirectly Non fatal injuriesMultiple horsesProperty damageMultiple traffic collisionsLitigation2 lawsuits Contents 1 Preparations 2 Launch 3 Consequences 4 Legacy 5 References 6 External linksPreparations Edit Terminal Tower overlooking Public Square The stunt was coordinated by a Los Angeles based company headed by Treb Heining Balloonart by Treb which spent six months preparing for it A rectangular structure the size of a city block was set up to hold the balloons on the southwest quadrant of Cleveland s Public Square It measured 250 feet 76 m by 150 feet 46 m was three stories high and was covered with a one piece net of woven mesh material 2 3 4 Inside 2 500 volunteers consisting largely of high school students spent many hours filling the balloons with helium One described the preparations as like an assembly line non stop Volunteers received free T shirts 1 3 5 6 United Way originally planned to release two million balloons but eventually stopped at over 1 4 million 4 Children sold sponsorships to benefit United Way at the price of 1 for every two balloons 4 Launch EditOn Saturday September 27 1986 with a rainstorm approaching organizers decided on an early release of the balloons at about 1 50 p m EDT A crowd of over 100 000 gathered in downtown Cleveland for the event 7 Close to 1 5 million balloons rose up from Public Square surrounding Terminal Tower and surpassing a world record set the previous year on the 30th anniversary of Disneyland 1 Consequences EditTypically a helium filled latex balloon that is released outdoors will stay aloft long enough to be fully deflated before it descends to Earth 8 However the Balloonfest balloons collided with a front of cool air and rain which caused them to drop towards the ground while still inflated The descending balloons clogged the land and waterways of Northeast Ohio In the days following the event many balloons were reported washed ashore on the Canadian side of Lake Erie causing water pollution 6 Some people had misconceptions about the environmental impact of balloon releases thinking that the balloons would reach an altitude where they popped and disintegrated 7 Burke Lakefront Airport had to shut down a runway for half an hour after balloons landed there 1 3 Traffic collisions were also reported as drivers swerved to avoid slow motion blizzards of multicolored orbs or took their eyes off the road to gawk at the overhead spectacle 3 Motorists on the Cleveland Memorial Shoreway ran into fences and each other before the roadway was shut down A bulldozer was needed to help clear away the balloons 7 Two fishermen Raymond Broderick and Bernard Sulzer who had gone out on September 26 were reported missing by their families on the day of the event Rescuers spotted their 16 foot 4 9 m boat anchored west of the Edgewater Park breakwall A Coast Guard search and rescue helicopter crew had difficulties reaching the area because of the asteroid field of balloons 9 A search and rescue boat crew tried to spot the fishermen floating in the lake but Guard officials said balloons in the water made it impossible to see whether anyone was in the lake 1 On September 29 the Coast Guard suspended its search The fishermen s bodies subsequently washed ashore The wife of one of the fishermen sued the United Way of Cleveland and the company that organized the balloon release for 3 2 million and later settled on undisclosed terms 1 Balloons landing on a pasture in Medina County Ohio spooked Louise Nowakowski s Arabian horses which allegedly suffered permanent injuries as a result Nowakowski sued the United Way of Cleveland for 100 000 in damages and settled for undisclosed terms 1 The fundraiser lost money due to cost overruns 5 Legacy EditThe 1988 edition of The Guinness Book of World Records recognizes the event as a world record largest ever mass balloon release with 1 429 643 balloons launched 10 11 Because of the damage caused Guinness no longer measures environmentally unsound events like balloon releases citation needed Balloonfest 86 was the subject of the 2018 short documentary film Balloonfest 12 References Edit a b c d e f g h i Kroll John August 15 2011 Balloonfest 1986 the spectacle that became a debacle Cleveland Remembers The Plain Dealer Retrieved March 15 2014 a b Bellamy Gail Ghetia 2013 Cleveland Summertime Memories A Warm Look Back Gray amp Company p 65 ISBN 1938441508 a b c d e O Malley Michael September 26 2011 25 years ago thousands watched a balloon launch on Public Square The Plain Dealer Retrieved May 5 2014 a b c McCormack Simon April 24 2014 Releasing 1 5 Million Balloons Into The Air Is A Bad Idea The Huffington Post Retrieved May 4 2014 a b O Malley Michael September 26 2011 25 years ago thousands watched a balloon launch on Public Square The Plain Dealer a b Livingston Tom August 8 2013 Cleveland s 1986 Balloonfest the world record that went bust WEWS Archived from the original on October 18 2015 Retrieved March 15 2014 a b c Stratford Suzanne September 27 2021 Cleveland marks 35 years since 1 5 million balloons fell on city in disastrous balloonfest News 4 Buffalo Nexstar Media Wire Burchette D Balloon HQ Presents Balloon Releases and the Environment www balloonhq com Retrieved April 15 2018 Kushins Jordan April 22 2014 That Time Cleveland Released 1 5 Million Balloons and Chaos Ensued Gizmodo Retrieved May 5 2014 1988 Guinness Book of World Records New York Sterling Publishing 1987 p 438 ISBN 9780806965994 OCLC 18803488 Retrieved July 8 2018 via The Internet Archive Claim to world record for Balloonfest 86 is not all hot air Michael K McIntyre s Tipoff cleveland com Retrieved November 13 2018 Buder Emily June 12 2018 Cleveland Balloonfest 86 A Short Film By Nathan Truesdell The Atlantic The Atlantic External links EditBalloonfest on Vimeo The doomed Cleveland balloonfest of 86 on YouTube Balloonfest is the subject of an episode of the American History comedy podcast The Dollop Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Balloonfest 2786 amp oldid 1129385308, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
