Dansville NYS Festival of Balloons grounded in 2023: This is why it may never return
After more than four decades of flight, the Dansville Festival of Balloons has been grounded.
A Livingston County Labor Day weekend tradition that draws as many as 20,000 spectators to the Dansville Municipal Airport for three days of hot air balloon launches and other activities will not soar in 2023, at least not under the banner of the Dansville Festival of Balloons, LTD.
The five-member organizing board and committee that has run the event for years announced the cancellation in a Facebook post this month, writing the decision was made with a "sad heart" and is due to the "continued decline of volunteer staffing" and the current "financial environment."
The post added, "The volunteer, not-for-profit organization has served the community and the area with 41 years of family entertainment centered on the natural beauty and history of hot air balloons."
For subscribers:As NY schools struggle to fill jobs, one Southern Tier superintendent is driving the bus
Health:NY added 27K flu cases in 1 week. Here's what to know as hospitals brace for patient surges
State:Black, Hispanic people more often disciplined in NY prisons, Inspector General says
Balloon festival needs more year-round organizers
According to organizers, for a similar festival to take place in the future, new people have to step up and serve.
“The main reason that we are not continuing is because of a lack of volunteers to be on the committee for the whole year," explained Dorothy Hotchkiss, the festival board president who has been involved with the event for at least 30 years. "We have many volunteers the weekend of the festival and that’s wonderful. They are fantastic. But it’s the organizing and the work throughout the year that we need the help and the strength to keep going.”
In 1997, the Dansville event was officially designated as the New York State Festival of Balloons. Even with that distinction, Hotchkiss said most of the year-round planning is accomplished by the board and three or four active committee volunteers.
“It’s good. It’s been our choice," she said. “Nothing is more satisfying than seeing families and people of all ages come to the festival. To have a hot air balloon launch, and to see people ride as passengers, and listen to the crowd. It’s always been very rewarding."
Festival of Balloons has donated more than $200,000 to community groups
The festival board has been able to maintain a $5 admission price for many years while children 12 and under are still admitted for free. Fewer balloonists take part than in the past, but Dansville remains a popular setting, Hotchkiss said, "because of the valley; the air currents are a natural flow for this type of entertainment."
In addition to providing three days of hot air balloon flights, vendors, car shows and other activities, Hotchkiss said a key focus is giving back to the community. Festival organizers said nearly $220,000 has been donated to local non-profits since 2001.
The festival has also provided space for organizations and groups, including school classes, to raise money by volunteering at the festival and holding fundraisers. One example: the Dansville Rotary Club's hamburger and hot dog stand at the festival is a significant yearly fundraiser for the club, according to members.
Hotchkiss said it was important to make the cancellation announcement early enough to allow groups like the Rotary time to make other arrangements.
Dansville mayor Peter R. Vogt said the festival has a positive economic impact in the village, with thousands of out-of-towners patronizing "everything from restaurants to gas stations" during the weekend.
Vogt, whose family hosted hot air balloon pilots during several festivals, said while the cancellation is a disappointment, it's not surprising.
“An organization, for it to thrive, has to revitalize itself with new blood every now and then and they just were not getting that," Vogt said. "It’s been the same people year after year and most of them are in my age group, in their 70s, probably on average. When you hit your 70s you are looking to retire and pass the torch to somebody.”
2019:Behind the scenes at the Festival of Balloons
Pandemic impact:2020 Balloon Festival cancelled
'If there is a will there is a way'
Hotchkiss is optimistic new people will rise to the occasion, even if the event goes in an entirely new direction.
“We will not be having another festival under the name of ‘The Dansville Festival of Balloons,'" she said. "My hope, and I anticipate, that there are others in the community who may be able to pick it up.
“They could have a festival that doesn’t look a bit like ours. New ideas. New ways. That’s OK. It’s a great community, if there is a will there is a way.”
Follow Neal Simon on Twitter @HornellTribNeal. To get unlimited access to the latest news, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
This article originally appeared on The Evening Tribune: New York State Festival of Balloons in Dansville canceled in 2023
