Call him the eternal optimist, but Eric Turner is hoping against hope the winds die down and the hot air balloons can lift off as planned Saturday morning to kick off the fourth annual Fool's Cup weekend.
"If it stays like it was this morning, we should be able to get the balloons off at dawn," said Turner, director of Plainview's Main Street/Convention and Visitors Bureau. "They're going to have to get up and out."
While high winds are expected today and Saturday, Turner hopes there's enough of a reprieve around 7:30 a.m. Saturday that the dozen or so balloons expected from Lubbock and Amarillo will have a chance to lift off from Runningwater Draw Regional Park.
Even if the hot air balloons are grounded, however, the rest of the day's activities -- most of which are scheduled near Kidsville -- should go on as planned. There's lots to choose from, including golf, a singing contest, triathlon, car show, dog contest, fly-in and lots of food including breakfast and a chili cookoff.
"It's going to be breezy, but everything will still be going on," said Turner. "There could be some very long drives at the golf tournament, or some very short ones."
Fool's Cup events actually get rolling tonight when Pitch-In Plainview hosts a spaghetti supper from 5:30-7:30 p.m. in the Rotary Building in the park located behind the YMCA. The dinner includes spaghetti, salad, toast, veggies, dessert and drink for a $5 donation. Take-out plates are available.
Also tonight, Plainview Christian Academy hosts its second annual benefit dinner and auction at the Laney Center on the Wayland campus. Ticket sales to that event are sold out.
Before and after the scheduled hot air balloon launch at dawn Saturday, breakfast will be served by the Rotary Club and HCSB.
A balloon release remembering those affected by cancer and sponsored by Junior American Cancer Society and the city's Youth Advisory Commission will be held shortly after dawn.
One of the premiere Fool's Cup attractions is the Kiwanis Club-sponsored, sanctioned chili cookoff, which also features beans, fajitas and ribeye. While some two dozen cooking teams from throughout the area will be competing for prizes, the public can sample all the food for $5 per plate.
Cargill is donating 21-day aged prime rib for that event.
As part of the cookoff, five local groups will compete for the second annual Golden Ladle Award. The Lions Club will defend its ladle against challenges from the Kiwanis Club, Rotary Club, Soroptimist Club and Knights of Columbus.
Also on tap is KKYN's Colgate Plainview's Got Talent music contest in which area talent compete for a chance to move onto the next round. The Lions Club is staging its Hot Wheels Car and Motorcycle Show with "Pride of Plainview," and the Hale County Literacy Council will put Mutt Strut '09: Paws for Reading from 2-4 p.m.
Categories include cutest and ugliest dog under and over 20 pounds, best trick and kiss, pet and parent look-a-like and best-dressed dog. Entry fee is $3 per category or $15 for all. Dogs must be at least 10 weeks old and registered by 1:50 p.m.
At Plainview Municipal Golf Course, RSVP will host a golf tournament at which "LAUGH" rules apply. For more information call the pro shop at 296-6148.
Over at the Plainview-Hale County Airport, Rocket Aviation will host the West Texas 100 Air Race and fly-in, and Covenant Hospital Plainview will sponsor an Easter egg hunt starting at 11 a.m. on the hospital's east lawn. Kids under 10 are welcome.
Turner said the first Fool's Cup Triathlon, beginning at the YMCA, is shaping up to be a tremendous success. The children's (ages 14 and up) portion of the triathlon -- consisting of a 100-meter swim, two-mile bike ride and one-mile run -- will be from 9-10 a.m. The adult division -- consisting of a 200-meter swim, five-mile bike race and two-mile run -- is from 10-11 a.m.
Cost is $15 for adults and $10 for children. Team entries are available. Entry includes a T-shirt and finisher medal. For more information go to www.plainviewymca.org or call 293-8319.
Also at the Y, a health fair will be held from 1-4 p.m., in conjunction with Healthy Kids Day, an hk2020 event. Activities, which are free, will include an obstacle course, relay races, fun run, face painting, health fair, Cardio Kids class and more. For more information contact Jennifer Rankin at 293-2319 or visit www.plainviewymca.org.
On Saturday evening, a Senior Art Exhibition will be held at 6:30 p.m. at Wayland's Abraham Art Gallery. Also, "The Burning: A Theatrical Exploration into the Nature of Creation," a student-written, directed and choreographed production at Wayland, will be performed at 8 p.m. today and Saturday at Wayland's Trinity Building, Ninth and Utica. Admission is $4 for WBU students and $6 for the public.
The Fair Theatre is hosting two events this weekend.
At 7 p.m. Saturday, Jimmy Burson of Silverton, a country, cowboy and western swing singer, will perform. Tickets, available at the door, are $10.
Winding down the weekend at 7:30 p.m. Sunday at the Fair is an area Prayer and Praise Rally hosted by Pray Plainview. Anyone concerned about our nation and economy is invited. For information call 293-3644.
Turner said proceeds from most of the weekend events support local charities through various organizations.
For general information about Fool's Cup events, call 296-1119.
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