Press Kit

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - May 13, 2010

CONTACT:  Marti Mayne, 207-846-6331, info@maynelymarketing.com

MT WASHINGTON VALLEY BALLOON FESTIVAL WILL LIFT THE SPIRITS

Weekend-long balloon festival includes rides, receptions and retail/dining opportunities

North Conway, NH - The North Conway Village Association will present the North Conway Balloon Festival Weekend, planned for June 11-13.  Entitled "Lifting Spirits" to celebrate the advent of summer, this family-friendly event will include scenic and tethered balloon rides, receptions, drawings and give-aways, plus special offers from restaurants and retailers.  This is the perfect weekend to enjoy a balloon-filled, romantic weekend - proposals and vow renewals high in the sky are encouraged!  Additionally, family fun will fill the weekend.

Eight hot-air balloons are expected to participate in the event. Tethered balloon rides will take place in Schouler Park and will cost $10 for adults and $5 for children, while one-hour balloon rides will also be available for $175 per person and launch from several sites depending upon wind and weather conditions. To complement the balloon rides on Saturday, and to further lift the spirits of children, helium balloons will be given to kids and the Mount Washington Observatory will offer a special "balloon program" at the Weather Discovery Center at 10:30 am and again at 1:00 pm along with their usual programs. The Kennett High School Mineral Springs Brass Ensemble will be on hand to add high energy musical entertainment with performances at 1:00 pm and 3:00 pm. In addition, the M & D Theater Company will be performing skits from "A Streetcar Named Desire" at 2:00 pm and 4:00 pm

Interested flyers will meet in Schouler Park during the specified hours. Advance reservations for one-hour flights are highly recommended due to limited availability and can be made through the North Conway Village Association by contacting Howard Stanten online at howard@metcoffeehouse.com or at 603-356-2332. It is important to note that weather plays an important role in ballooning, and all activities may be postponed or rescheduled due to wind and weather conditions. 

Two drawings will take place featuring one prize package geared toward couples offering the perfect opportunity to propose or renew vows and another for families. Stay in participating Mt Washington Valley lodging properties for one or more nights and you may just win one of the two prize packs, including balloon rides and more.  Participating lodging properties include Attitash Grand Summit Hotel , Colonial Motel , Cranmore Inn , Eastern Inns , Eastern Slope Inn , Golden Gables Inn, The Spruce Moose, Cranmore Mountain Lodge, and Golden Gables Inn. Romance prize entries will be distributed at the Friday night reception at Rafferty's. Prizes include gift certificates, merchandise, travel opportunities, balloon rides, and more.

Look forward to the following activities taking place throughout the North Conway Balloon festival:

Friday, June 11

5:00 pm on "Lifting Spirits" Village Activities in and around Schouler Park with Retail & Dining Opportunities

6:00 - 9:00 pm Hot-Air Balloon Rides and Tethered Balloon Rides at Schouler Park

8:00 - 10:00 pm "Love is in the Air" Couples Reception at Rafferty's.  Entry fee: $25 per couple, includes one drink, appetizers and prize entry.

Saturday, June 12

6:00 - 9:00 am Hot-Air Balloon Rides

8:30 - 11:00 am Tethered Balloon Rides at Schouler Park

10:00 am "Balloons over the Valley" Family Adventure Drawing at Schouler Park

All Day in the Park "Lifting Spirits" Village Activities in and around Schouler Park with Musical, Theatrical, and Educational Activities along with Retail & Dining Opportunities

10:30 and 1:00pm:  Balloon program at MW Observatory Weather Discovery Center

1:00 - 3:00pm: High energy music by Kennett High School Mineral Springs Brass Ensemble

2:00 and 4:00pm:  Streetcar named Desire, presented by M&D Theater Company.

4:00 - 6:00 pm "Meet the Balloonists" Social at The Met

5:30 - 8:30 pm Tethered Balloon Rides at Schouler Park

6:00 - 8:30 pm Hot-Air Balloon Rides

8:00 - 10:00 pm Coffee and Dessert Social with Musical Entertainment at The Met

8:30 - 9:30 pm "Balloon Glow" in Schouler Park

Sunday, June 13

6:00 - 9:00 am Hot-Air Balloon Rides

All Morning in the Park "Lifting Spirits" Village Activities in and around Schouler Park with Tethered Balloon Rides and Retail & Dining Opportunities

The North Conway Balloon Festival is sponsored by Amerigas, OVP at Settlers Green, River Run Inc., Story Land, Varsity Beverage, Northway Bank, and Zeb's General Store. The event would not be possible without the support of these business partners. Many area businesses are also on board sponsoring this event.

For more information, visit http://www.mtwashingtonvalley.org// and click on the balloon icon or call 1-800-DO-SEE-NH (800-367-3364).  To make reservations for balloon rides, contact Howard Stanten online at howard@metcoffeehouse.com or at 603-356-2332.

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For high res photos of balloons over North Conway, go to http://www.mtwashingtonvalley.org/presskit/presskit_photos_display.cfm?category=Summer and request photos.