Here's what you missed at the Pro Football HOF Enshrinement Festival Balloon Classic
JACKSON TWP. – Thousands of people descended upon the campuses of Stark State College and Kent State University at Stark on Saturday in hopes of seeing the hot-air balloons take flight.
And they were not disappointed.
Favorable weather allowed several of the balloons to take off from the launch field just after 7 p.m. to the cheers of the spectators at the Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival Balloon Classic. Roughly two dozen other balloons also passed over the field as they took part in the team competition.
Spectators have one more chance to see the balloons. A balloon launch is scheduled for 6:30 a.m. Sunday, weather permitting.
Meet Little Miss Muffet
The balloons taking off in the field weren't the only ones entertaining spectators Saturday.
Hundreds of children with their families flocked to the Balloon Education area to see Little Miss Muffet, a hot-air balloon that has been retired from flying.
During the first few hours of the Balloon Classic, families had the chance to walk on the balloon envelope. Around 7:30 p.m., volunteers inflated Miss Muffet halfway to allow families to walk inside the domed-shaped envelope to view what balloonists would have seen when they were in the air. Families also had the chance to climb into a 4-foot-tall balloon basket, which was a popular photo opportunity.
Volunteers estimated that more than 500 children visited Miss Muffet on Friday and they were on pace to exceed that amount on Saturday.
Sandy and Fred Muffet of Barberton donated Little Miss Muffet to the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce roughly 15 years ago. They were on hand Saturday to answer questions and watch the children enjoy the balloon that was built in 1978.
"I think there are more kids who've enjoyed her in the last 15 years than we ever would have had been able to take up in it when we had it," Fred Muffet said.
Reach Kelli at 330-580-8339 or kelli.weir@cantonrep.com.
On Twitter: @kweirREP
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Pro Football HOF Enshrinement Festival Balloon Classic takes off
