FOLEY - After much deliberation, the South Baldwin Chamber of Commerce has made the decision to cancel this year’s Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival due to the rapid increase of COVID-19 cases in …
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FOLEY - After much deliberation, the South Baldwin Chamber of Commerce has made the decision to cancel this year’s Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival due to the rapid increase of COVID-19 cases in the area. All ticket holders will receive a full refund.
The festival was originally set to take place on May 1 - 2 but was postponed until Aug. 28 - 29. After discussing the current case numbers and taking into consideration the extended “safer at home” order, the chamber feels canceling is the best decision.
“We feel that continuing on with the event at this point would not be socially responsible and would put our guests, volunteers, vendors, and pilots at a great risk of exposure to the virus,” said Director of Events Rachel Spear.
The event typically brings 50 plus balloons to the area, as well as offering crafts, live entertainment, and food options.
According to Spear, the decision to cancel was a difficult call to make, but one she and her team feels is right.
“We love giving back to our community and offering the opportunity for families and individuals to make lasting memories through such a fun and beautiful event,” she said. “However, the health and safety of our volunteers, pilots, staff, sponsors, vendors and guests has to take precedence this year during this pandemic.”
You can follow the Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival, presented by OWA, on all its social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter) to keep up with the latest information. You can also visit www.gulfcoastballoonfestival.com.
The Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival is scheduled to return on May 7 & 8, 2021.