The Atlantic Balloon Fiesta is marking 40 years later this summer, and the organizers are putting together a big event to mark the milestone.
Executive committee member Alannah Pearson described the festival as a big part of Sussex since the beginning.
“The original intent of the festival was to extend the tourism season beyond Labour Day weekend,” Pearson said.
She said a handful of businesspeople in the Sussex area got together and put on. the first rudimentary editions of the festival.
Since that first event, the festival has grown exponentially.
“Now we’re seeing anywhere from 80,000 to 100,000 spectators come into town,” Pearson said.
She said the crowds go beyond just the event, visiting local businesses, going to restaurants, stopping for gas.
“We have reports from some of our sponsors who are incredibly grateful to have the support,” Pearson said. “We have grocery stores that the shelves are running low on stock, we have restaurants that are running low on food by Sunday afternoon.”
And while the festival itself doesn’t charge admission to the grounds, Pearson said it has been a big fundraiser for other, smaller organizations in the community.
“Some of the local sports organizations and community groups, they will organize the parking in lots surrounding our event and they raise funds that weekend that helps support ice time for hockey teams and figure skaters and other kids’ sports,” she said.
Government funding cuts
This year, the organizers have had to deal with a cut in funding from the provincial government.
The festival lost access to about $11,000 because the event has free admission.
Pearson said because they don’t charge, people can just come and go from the grounds, and organizers are not able to track information the province was looking for.
“Specifically postal codes,” she said. “They’re looking for postal codes from folks that are coming and spectating the event to see where they’re coming from.”
But Pearson said the loss of the funds has not been a major blow to the event.
“We have MLA Tammy Scott-Wallace in our region and she came through and she was able to provide us $7,000 in community investment funds from her pot through the (Regional Development Corporation,” Pearson said.
Local businesses also stepped forward and ramped up their usual sponsorship to help make up the difference.
“It really is a community event and everybody’s kind of rallying to make sure that we’re able to continue without a hitch,” she said.
What to expect
Along with the usual attractions, Pearson says they’re currently expecting around 34 balloons for the event.
She said they usually average around 30.
“So we’re on the higher end this year,” she said, adding visitors should expect some new and exciting shaped balloons making their first visit to Sussex.
Pearson said balloons generally hit the skies around 7 a.m. each day of the event, and again around 6 p.m., all weather-permitting.
But there’s plenty to do in between, she said.
Live entertainment, amusement rides, a car show on the Sunday, and vendors in and out of the grounds will be there through the event.
The 40th Atlantic Balloon Fiesta runs September 10th to 13th at Princess Louise Park in Sussex.
And in keeping with tradition, there’s still no charge to come and enjoy the festivities.
