NSBNEWS.net photos by Henry Frederick. Cutline: At least 10,000 spectators descended on New Smyrna Beach Municipal Airport on Friday evening to watch the testing of 10 large hot-air balloons that will take flight with several more this morning at dawn. This was the inaugural Seaside Balloon Fest sponsored by the City of New Smyrna Beach.
NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Spencer Harris' eyes grew real big when he looked up at the towering hot-air balloons that lit up the night sky Friday night at the New Smyrna Beach Municipal Airport.
"They're really cool," the blond-haired boy said, pointing to the rotund objects that were being tested for flight at dawn this morning. "Look at all the different colors they are."
The boy was not alone in his enthusiasm for New Smyrna Beach's inaugural Seaside Balloon Fest. City officials estimated 10,000 spectators descended onto the airport grounds to check out 10 balloons. A DJ played music and concession stands sold hot dogs and soft drinks to benefit the American Cancer Society.
Traffic was jammed on U.S. 1 and some of the patrons parked mote than a mile away and walked to the grounds where they got an up-close view of the mighty objects held down by thick ropes. Admission was free.
"This is amazing," said 50-year-old Doug Harris, Spencer's father. "We've heard about them in Lakeland." Harris, of New Smyrna Beach said he was even more surprised by the turnout than the balloons themselves: "It's just amazing. I guarantee this will be a big hit for years to come."
That is exactly what New Smyrna Beach Mayor Sally Mackay is banking on.
"We organized this over the last three months," she said, craning her neck to watch the multi-colored balloons dance over the ground. This is what we wanted to do to kick off our celebration of 2009 -- this is our gift to the City of New Smyrna Beach."
Mackay said it's too soon to provide hard figures on costs involved, mainly for traffic control, security, set-up and clean-up and entertainment, but she quickly added the potential for incoming revenues by virtue of not only townspeople, but others coming into the city and shopping, eating at restaurants and staying in hotels and motels is what the city needs.
"If we want people to visit New Smyrna Beach, then we need to do things like this," the second-year mayor said. City Commissioner Lynne Plaskett was very animated about the event, asking rhetorically, "Can you believe we have all these people? This is so incredible. Just look at these balloons. This is a once in a lifetime event for the kids, and the adults, too."
Lucy Alcorn, wife of prominent real estate magnate Tom Alcorn, summed up the event in one word: "Magnificent!" "Isn't this wonderful?" she said, repeating the common refrain. "It reminds me of (the Kentucky) Derby in Louisville, two weeks before the race where they have the Great American Balloon Race. This is fabulous."