Macomb, IL – This weekend in Macomb, all eyes will be on the sky. The 21st Annual Macomb Balloon Rally will bring in 29 pilots from across the Midwest.
The pilots will launch out of Vince Grady Field on the WIU campus Friday evening. They will try to land on the field Saturday morning and again that evening.
As part of the Saturday morning flights, the pilots will attempt to hit a target that's mowed into the field. The target will be designed to fit in with this year's theme, which is Pirates Over Macomb.
The rally will wrap up with the popular Balloon Glow, which gets underway as the sun sets Saturday evening. The Balloon Glow is also a chance for spectators to interact with the pilots.
The chairperson for the 21st Annual Macomb Balloon Rally is Jodi Pospeschil. You can listen to an interview with her by clicking on the audio button.
Additional information:
*As part of the balloon rally, the WIU Jazz Studio Orchestra will perform Friday 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm at Vince Grady Field.
*Saturday evening's entertainment will be provided by The Daddy-O's. The band is scheduled to perform 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm.
*There is no admission fee for any of the balloon rally events.
*A committee of about 15 volunteers works on the balloon rally. They communicate with pilots, arrange lodging for them, and make sure the pilots have the propane needed to fly their balloons.