Tehama County will be looking to the skies on Oct. 24 and 25 as hot air balloons take off for the inaugural Ribs, Rods and Rides Hot Air Balloon Festival at Rolling Hills Casino in Corning.
What's neat about the festival is it is three different groups of people and their die hard groups, said Rolling Hills Marketing Director Kate Grissom. All three groups together will make for a really fun festival. The whole thing is a spectator event and most of it will be free.
In addition to balloons, participants will be able to visit a classic car show and an invitation- only rib cook off with proceeds from the day going to the Red Bluff/Tehama County Chamber of Commerce.
Grissom said Rolling Hills' involvement wasn't just about getting businesses to donate to the chamber.
Our mission is community improvement and development, Grissom said.
We believe if we can be a partner in raising funds, and by providing an event that not only encourages residents and businesses alike to participate we've created a sense of pride in Tehama County and that's a win-win situation.
Chamber President Kris Behrens said the loss of the Nitro Nationals Boat Drags has left the chamber in definite need of funding. She said she was also excited about drawing new people to the area.
The chamber's charge is to support local businesses, but also, as a partner to the Conventions and Business Bureau, to bring visitors to the area, Behrens said. (The festival) brings a new and different venue to Tehama County.
We've really done a fabulous job of preserving our heritage, but this provides a venue totally separate from that, which touches the same, but also a different, group.
The festival will run from daybreak, about 7 a.m., when the balloons take off, to 2 p.m. with lots for spectators to do and see, including wine and olive tasting, games and live music. Rib tasting will be included in the event for a price, which has not been set yet.
Hot air balloon rides will be available to the general public for a price, which also has not been set, with all proceeds from the rides going to the chamber.
Balloons will be tethered, but people will still experience the feeling of lifting off and coming back down, Behrens said.
Orland resident Russ James will be heading up the balloon portion of the event as the Balloonmeister. He will be in charge of organizing pilots and checking weather conditions before take off.
I'm getting kind of excited about bringing an event like this that might bring some notoriety to this part of the world, James said.
As for lift off weather, James said the weather doesn't have to be sunny.
The biggest thing is the wind, James said. When you get more than 6, 7, or 8 mph when you have a balloon on the ground, it's about 60 feet in diameter and 60 feet tall and it wants to go with the wind. Things get a little bit rough and tumble.
James said he has pilots coming from as far as Reno and Carson City, Nev. and Medford and Grants Pass, Ore.
James said part of what makes riding in a hot air balloon fun is the people he meets and the camaraderie with those he flies with.
As a rule, we don't land where we take off like a plane because we go where the wind goes, James said. Ballooning is all about having fun. In a lot of cases it's kind of an adventure to see where you go.
Taking off at dawn avoids conditions found later in the day, such as updrafts and downdrafts, he said.
Sunrise is ordinarily the calmest and coolest time of the day, James said. Not that balloons can't fly (in hotter periods) but you can't, say, if there's an updraft that takes your control away or a downdraft that slams you to the ground or into a tree or power line.
Sponsorships for the festival are available and include festival ride for $1,000 and friends of the festival for $750.
Those interested in sponsorship can call Alan Foley at 528- 1328 or Elizabeth Soder at 736- 1474. For information call 527- 6220.
Entry fee to the show for those with classic cars Further information about the festival can be found at www.rollinghillscasino.com/rrr.
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