Hudson Valley Hot-Air Balloon Festival a great success

The Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual Hudson Valley Hot-Air Balloon Festival on July 7-9, 2017 with mass balloon launches filling the skies between Friday and Sunday. The festival was held at Barton Orchards at 63 Apple Tree Lane in Poughquag and saw thousands of visitors from all over the tri-state area and beyond flocking to the fields to watch the majestic balloons float on air. Kids of all ages enjoyed speaking with the pilots and gathering the 24 Collector Cards, which featured the balloons and VIPs of the event.
 
With expanded festival hours, activities happened all weekend. Thanks to Barton Orchards, there were lots of family activities such as a petting zoo, hayrides, food trucks and vendors, a tap room, bakery and farmer’s market, fire pits, ball toss, and live music entertainment by great bands on two stages.
 
New this year, special shape balloons ‘Piko,’ a blue, smiling face, and ‘Pokey,’ a green and tan turtle, joined the mass launches and the popular Moon Glow and fireworks displays lit up the night sky both Friday and Saturday evenings!
 
Helicopter rides and hot-air balloon rides as well as the tethered rides were extremely popular with guests.
 
Balloon launches were at 6 a.m. Saturday and Sunday and 6 p.m. Friday through Sunday. All launches, rides, Moon Glow, and fireworks were completely weather dependent, but left the crowds cheering for more.
 
Updates throughout the weekend were posted on the Chamber’s website at dcrcoc.org as well as on the Hudson Valley Hot-Air Balloon Festival Facebook and Instagram pages. Did you take some fantastic photos or video? We want to see it! Share your photos and videos using hashtag #HVBalloon! Visit balloonfesthv.com for FAQs, sponsors, photos, and more.
 
The Hudson Valley Hot-Air Balloon Festival Presenting Sponsors are Barton Orchards, Bottini Fuel, and Q92.1. The AT&T Balloon Fest Hotline is sponsored by Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corp. The VIP Reception Sponsor is TEG Federal Credit Union. The Event Guide Sponsor is MidHudson Regional Hospital. The Balloon Sponsors are The Arc of Dutchess, AT&T, D’Arcangelo & Co., DCH Wappingers Falls Toyota, KeyBank, LCS Companies, Meyer Contracting, MidHudson Regional Hospital, Poughkeepsie Galleria, The Poughkeepsie Grand Hotel & Conference Center, Poughkeepsie Plaza, Quality Environmental Solutions & Technologies, REMAX, Royal Carting Service Company, and S&O Construction Services – celebrating 30 years. The Balloon Walkabout Sponsor is ServiceMaster by Nest Restoration Services. The Media Sponsor is Poughkeepsie Journal Media.  Special thanks to Harmon & Castella Printing, Inc., Beekman Fire Dept., Dutchess County Government, Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office, Dutchess Tourism, and New York State Police.