This NY balloon festival was canceled, then saved, then canceled again. What happened

Hopes for a hot air balloon festival in Dansville over the Labor Day weekend have deflated.

The Dansville Festival of Balloons said Hot Air Balloon Management pulled the plug on the scheduled Sept. 1-3 festival at the Dansville Municipal Airport.

The new event was set to replace New York State Festival of Balloons, held each year on Labor Day weekend at the same site.

The not-for-profit group who put on a balloon festival in Dansville for more than 40 years canceled the 2023 event late last year, citing the limited number of volunteers available to do the year-round organizing.

But it looked like there was going to a be a reprieve for the popular balloon fest.

With a new iteration of the Dansville Festival of Balloons partnering with a national balloon festival organization, the event was promoted as three days of hot air balloon flights, more than two dozen balloons from across the country, a glow and laser show, tethered rides, games and live music.

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Now, the festival is listed as "canceled" on the ticket agency for the event, freshtix.com.

Gregg Horr, supervisor for the the Town of North Dansville, explained why Hot Air Balloon Management backed out.

“There were really two reasons why they didn’t think they could hold it," he said. "Not enough of the balloonists were willing to come and they did not have enough vendors to put it on."

Previous Dansville balloon fests featured six potential flights over three days with an admission cost of $5. The canceled festival had three balloon launches scheduled, eschewing morning flights.

Still, Horr said the Town of North Dansville developed a solid relationship with Hot Air Balloon Management and he is open to the business trying again in the future.

Hot Air Balloon Management could not be reached for comment.

Dansville still planning Labor Day weekend fun

There will not be hot air balloon flights, but Dansville is still in store for Labor Day weekend celebrations. A community group called Rally ‘Round the Valley is organizing activities.

A hot air balloon glow will take place on Thursday, Aug. 31, at Brae Burn Golf Course on Red Jacket Street.

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Then on Saturday, Sept. 2, from morning to dusk, a community festival will be held in the church park on Clara Barton Street, with vendors, a bounce house, food and crafts. A car show is set for 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. in the town hall parking lot and a volleyball tournament will be contested at the Redemption MMA center on Spruce Street.

Alternative for hot air balloon enthusiasts: Wellsville rally July 21-23

The Great Wellsville Balloon Rally, held at Island Park in the village, has been a summertime tradition in Allegany County since 1975.

Expect more than 30 hot air balloons to take flight over three days, with the first launch scheduled for 6 p.m. July 21. Morning and evening launches are planned on Saturday, July 22, and the rally's final lift-off is at 6 a.m. Sunday.

A key feature of the Wellsville rally: Admission to Island Park is free.

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This article originally appeared on The Evening Tribune: Plug pulled on 2023 Dansville balloon festival again: What happened