SEVENTH ANNUAL CITRUS CLASSIC HOT AIR BALLOON FESTIVAL
July 25-26, 2014
Discover the majesty of hot air balloons, memorable al fresco dining, vintage trailers and more at the Seventh Annual Citrus Classic Balloon Festival July 25th and 26th, off Highway 126 in Santa Paula.
Opening Night kicks off Friday July 25th at 6pm with a retro bang as festival goers browse vintage Airstreams, Teardrop and Shasta trailers to the live folk music of Sam ‘N Ash. The Vintage Trailer Village Open House offers guests a chance to tour inside the trailers, talk with the owners who carefully restored and customized them, and discover the attraction of the new vintage trailer craze.
The Sunset Wine Dinner pairs perfectly with the Vintage Trailer display, as dinner guests take a seat with prime views of the hot air balloons for one of the more unique al fresco dining experiences in Ventura County. With local wines, limoncello tastings, and delicious cuisine prepared by DJ’s California Catering, winner of the 2014 People’s Choice Caterer Award from the Ventura County Star, the Sunset Wine Dinner offers unforgettable memories with friends, clients and family. (Sunset Wine Dinner tickets including entry into the festival are available at $75 per person, $89 VIP. Groups welcome; advance purchase required by July 20th. )
Just a short saunter across festival lawns, visitors discover a different type of trailer and assorted festival fare: Food Trucks offering savory dinner items from ceviche to blackberry BBQ tri tip, ahi salads to kabobs, kid-friendly gourmet hot dogs and cupcakes by Sweet Arleen’s, the three-time winner of the Cupcake Wars, to ice-cold Firestone Walker beers and local wines.
As balloon crews and volunteers starting to prepare the balloon aircrafts, visitors mingle with the balloon pilots and learn about this centuries-old art of flight. Others stroll craft vendors, carnival rides and games, inflatables, and the Kids Glow Zone, where children can “get their glow on” with glow face painting and glow mural painting. As the sun begins to set, the Evening Balloon Glow begins. Colorful hot air balloons dramatically inflate and illuminate against the scenic country backdrop. “The hot air balloons always inspire a sense of timeless majesty you carry with you for years after,” shares Peggy Watson-Meinke, an international balloon pilot for over thirty years and resident of Camarillo. “If you have hot air ballooning on your bucket list, this is the place to be.”
Festivities continue early Saturday morning as pilots offer tether balloon rides to the public, ascending in their gondola baskets as high as 100 feet above the festival as weather and wind conditions permit. “It is a great way to take your first hot air balloon ride,” explains Event Organizer and Founder Carla Edwards. “The balloons remain tethered to the ground with a cable, and pilots can take you up as high – or as low – based on your comfort level.” Tether rides are budget-friendly, at $20 per adult, $15 per youth ages 6-14, while children 5 and under are free with an accompanying adult. Volunteers for balloon crews (as young as twelve and as old as 99!) are also welcome to pre-register for a hands-on and free ballooning experience.
Active fun for families includes the 3K SuperHero Color Run presented by Fit Fusion Family Studio, paintball, a rock climbing wall, Zorb Balls, youth zumba, and a playground hosted by My Gym Ventura. Ag Alley offers interactive agriculture displays, a hayride tour of a working citrus farm, a scavenger hunt, pony rides, and a farm animal petting zoo. Youth stage performances by the Santa Clarita School of Performing Arts and Ballet Folklorico Mexsal, inflatables, carnival games and rides, glow face painting or a free shuttle to discover Santa Paula’s historic downtown with its boutique shops and museums entertain.
Good times roll on as the Glow ‘N Show Car Show enters the field next to the Vintage Trailer Village Open House. Live broadcasting by Horsepower for An Hour captures the features of over 150 fantastic show cars and vintage trailers for the crowd, while the Holly Rollers, Cruise Knights and The UnUsual Suspects perform live on stage. Beer Tastings by Firestone Walker Brewing Company, and Tastings of Ventura County presented by Rancho Camulos Museum, tempt the crowd as popular folk singer Dan Grimm takes the stage.
After a rousing reggae performance by After the Smoke, the Air Display roars into view overhead, with soaring plane fly-bys, aerobatic stunts, and sky writing. The sky divers drift and maneuver to a landing in front of the Firestone Walker Craft Beer Dinner, another al fresco dining experience with prime seating and views of the Evening Balloon Glow. This pairing dinner marries locally crafted, award-winning Firestone Walker beers with a four-course gourmet dinner by Chef Jason Collis, known for his blend of farm to table and fusion cuisine. From BBQ Boar on a Blanket to Habenero Glazed Salmon, the menu is as compelling as the views of the Evening Balloon Glow.
One of Ventura County’s most popular dance bands, The House Arrest Band gets the crowd dancing as the hot air balloons begin to inflate and illuminate for the Evening Balloon Glow. The dancing continues after the Evening Balloon Glow with the Glow Dance Party with the Neon Glow Dancers, live DJ, and glowing face paint, beach balls and glow sticks.
The Citrus Classic Balloon Festival is conveniently located off Highway 126 at 18249 East Telegraph Road, Santa Paula. Tickets are $12/Adult/Friday July 25th, $15/Adult/Saturday 26th, and $5/Youth ages 6-14, 5 years and under free always. Tickets are available at the California State Welcome Center at (805)988-1735, the Santa Paula Times at (805)525-1890 or on-line at www.citrusclassicballoons.com
Festival parking is $7 per car, $15 per RV. On Saturday, free municipal lots are available via free shuttles. For the Program and more details, visit www.citrusclassicballoons.com
