Big Country Balloonfest goes aloft this weekend

Q: We moved to Abilene late last summer and as we were getting settled, we discovered the hot-air balloon fest over at Red Bud Park. We have always wanted to go see the International Balloon Fiesta in New Mexico but have never made it there so it was a real treat to see the balloons here in Abilene. I think it happened in September last year, so shouldn’t it be coming up soon? I wanted to make a balloon craft with my 5 and 7 year olds to get them excited for it, but I don’t know where to start. Any ideas? Up, Up and Away

A: Dear Up, Up and Away:

Hot-air balloons are amazing and beautiful to watch either in the early morning hours or during the evening exhibitions when they “glow”. Although Albuquerque, N.M., is the hot air balloon capital of the world and hosts the international fiesta, those of us who live here in the Big Country are blessed to not have to drive that far to see some balloons close up.

According to www.abilenevisitors.com this year marks the 15th year of the Big Country Balloon Fest. The activities start on Friday, Sept.25 and wrap up Sunday, Sept. 27th. To get more information about the event check out the website at: www.bigcountryballoonfest.com.

Here is a fun hot-air balloon craft for you to help your children with that I found at www.familyfun.go.com. The directions suggest using the finished project as a piñata, but it would also make a great decoration for any child’s room.

Hot-air Balloon Piñata

Supplies

- 14-inch balloon, inflated

- 10-inch bowl

1 batch papier-mâché paste

1 two-page spread each of regular newspaper and the comic pages

- 32-oz. plastic yogurt container, cut in half horizontally

- String

- Hole punch

- Glue stick

5 sheets of tissue paper in bright colors, cut into 3 1/2-inch squares

- 4 lbs. of individually wrapped candies

DIRECTIONS

For stability while working, place the balloon in a 10-inch bowl. Fold the spread of newspaper in half and then in half again. Tear (don’t cut) 1 1/2-inch-wide strips so they have a slightly rough edge (tearing along a straight edge works well). The rough edges help make a smooth overall surface. Drag a strip of newspaper through the papier-mâché paste, wipe off any excess with your fingers, and place it at an angle on the balloon. Place the second strip so that it slightly overlaps the first. Continue until the balloon has been covered with one layer of paper strips--except for a 2-inch square at the top, through which the candy will go. Give the papier-mâché up to 24 hours to dry. Cover your leftover paste with plastic wrap so it doesn’t dry out (if it does, add warm water).

For the piñata’s hanger, wrap the midpoint of a length of string (doubled up, if necessary) around the bottom of the balloon, pulling the ends up to the top; tape it to the balloon in a few places. Knot together the ends of the string 6 inches above the top. Tape the top half of the yogurt container to the bottom of the balloon. This will become the neck of the hot air balloon.

Cover the balloon (including the string), the neck and the bottom half of the yogurt container (which will become the hot air balloon basket) with a layer of strips of comics, placing them at a different angle from the first layer. (Using different colored strips lets you distinguish one layer from the next, ensuring a uniform overall thickness.) Allow the second layer to dry.

Cover the balloon, neck and basket with strips of plain newsprint going in a third direction. Smooth over any rough edges as you work. Allow the balloon to dry thoroughly.

Punch four holes into the neck of the hot air balloon and four into the basket. Attach string to the neck about 3 1/2 inches from the base of the balloon to later suspend the basket.

Dot the corners of a tissue square with a glue stick and place it just to the side of the 2-inch square on the top of the balloon. Follow with other squares in the same color, working your way diagonally down around the balloon. When you get to the bottom, start at the top again in another color, fitting the squares into a houndstooth pattern. If you want to add streamers, cut 2- by 30-inch lengths of tissue paper and glue them onto matching colored squares about halfway down.

Cover the basket with squares of tissue in different colors. Attach the basket to the balloon. Puncture the uncovered part of the balloon at the top of the piñata and remove all of the balloon fragments. Make sure the inside of the piñata is completely dry before you fill it, so the candy won’t stick to the sides. Fill it about halfway with the candy. Cover the opening with some tissue squares, and your piñata is ready to hang.

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