For Immediate Release
Hudson Hot Air Affair Balloon Rally and Winter Festival
January 2012
Hudson Hot Air Affair Celebrates “2012 The Year of the Dragon”
It’s a celebration of the Chinese New Year at the Hudson Hot Air Affair, the premier winter hot air balloon rally in the Midwest. The 23rd annual rally and winter festival, presented by WESTconsin Credit Union, will be Feb. 3-5, 2012 in Hudson, WI.
Because it’s the Chinese New Year in January and February, this year’s Hot Air Affair theme will be found throughout the annual event, including the torchlight parade with fire breathing dragons, programs and cultural arts demonstrations about China and other Asian countries and a Chinese New Year celebration to kick off the annual Moon Glow Saturday night.
Dozens of hot air balloons will launch Saturday and Sunday mornings. Specially designed balloons will represent ReMax, Stillwater Balloons and U.S. Bank. Airganic Garden is a new special shape balloon making its first appearance in Hudson. Because February flying is a rarity, hot air balloonists come from throughout the Midwest to participate in the winter rally. The Saturday evening Moon Glow allows visitors to walk among more than 30 aerostats tethered on the ground illuminating the E.P. Rock elementary school field to look like a field of Chinese Lanterns.
The winter festival kicks off Friday night, Feb. 3 with a torchlight parade, featuring blasts of flames, marching kazoo bands and “The Year of the Dragon” theme units. A fireworks display over the St. Croix River will start after the parade. Other evening activities include live music, karaoke and dances.
Saturday events include a pancake breakfast, marketplace and craft fair, the Up, Up and Away 5K fun run, kite flying, button instant winner promotion at local stores, geocaching, smoosh board competition, crafts for kids and entertainment at E.P. Rock School, ice carving demonstration, Octagon House Museum open house, benefit bingo plus live music and dances. The Saturday night Moon Glow is a favorite with balloons tethered on the launch field (weather permitting) or blasting a Field of Fire with their propane burners.
The annual chili cook-off, geocaching and button instant prizes will be on Sunday, Feb. 5.
Hot Air Affair souvenirs, apparel and balloon collectibles will be available at the Marketplace at E.P. Rock School on Saturday, Feb. 4. The Hot Air Affair is sponsored by Hudson Hot Air Affair Inc., a non-profit volunteer organization. WESTconsin Credit Union is the presenting sponsor and the event partners with the Hudson Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Bureau.
All spectator events are free. For details, contact the Hudson Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Bureau at 715-386-8411, 800-656-6775 or visit the web sites: www.hudsonhotairaffair.com or www.hudsonwi.org Hudson Hot Air Affair is also on Facebook.
Media Note: This news release is available at www.hudsonhotairaffair.com under the media tab. For more information or interviews, please contact Evy Nerbonne at 715-222-5375 or Carla Timmerman at 715-386-2394. Media interested in balloon flights during the 2011 Hudson Hot Air Affair should contact Nerbonne as soon as possible to reserve a spot during a flight.
