Aug 25, 2014
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Rachel M. Crumbley | Director of Marketing and Public Relations | Callaway Gardens
Direct: 706-663-5187 | Main: 706-663-6881 or 1-855-421-3120 | Fax: 706-663-5068
Email: rcrumbley@callawaygardens.com
Mailing Address: PO Box 2000, Pine Mountain, GA 31822-2000
www.callawaygardens.com
PINE MOUNTAIN, GA (08/25/2014) – Are you lamenting the end of another Summer? Worry not … at Callaway Gardens®, things are looking up - way up - with the return of the Callaway Gardens® Sky High Hot Air Balloon Festival for its 16th year.
Set for Labor Day Weekend, this annual Balloon Festival has something for everyone, from the soaring, majestic, colorful balloons to Callaway Gardens’ unique mix of natural beauty, to its endless helpings of multi-generational activities and events. When it comes to family fun at Callaway Gardens, the sky is the limit!
Festivities kick off Friday night when guests flock to Robin Lake Beach for the Balloon Glow. Upbeat live music by The Regulars sets the mood as balloons inflate. While the sun sets, the balloons’ individual colors glow against the gorgeous evening sky.
On both Saturday and Sunday mornings, it is up, up and away as the balloons head for the open skies (weather permitting*) at sunrise and sunset. On the ground, the action continues as Robin Lake Beach plays host to a family festival featuring activities and events for all ages. Choose from tethered balloon rides** (weather permitting*), swimming, miniature golf, disc dog demonstrations and more.
Don’t miss the popular Classic Car Show on Saturday. Nearly 300 cars are expected to roll through the gates and add more color to the already spectacular event. And, this is one last weekend for guests to enjoy Robin Lake Beach’s Aqua Island,**a floating water playground.
Come ready to have a great weekend and eat. The Beach Pavilion’s concessions will offer a variety of menu items. In addition, a food truck court will feature Tex’s Taco, Happy Belly, On Tapa The World, Hobie Pop Kettle Corn and Venice Gelato & Lemonade, just to name a few.
Sports fans have no fear. The games will be on the big screens at The Beach Bar at Robin Lake. Saturday night will include live music by Final Answer followed by a demonstration by On Target Pyrotechnic Skydiving Team at dusk (weather permitting).
Adding a different element of excitement to the weekend will be the Nautique 2014 USA Wakesurf National Championships. The powerful Nautique G23 will be the tow boat as these competitors skim board and surf on Robin Lake. Saturday will feature the qualifying heats followed by the Pro Division Finals on Sunday.
On Sunday morning, the athletically inclined can enjoy their own adventures thanks to the Callaway Gardens Fitness Series, including a 5K run and a triathlon. This year represents the 34th anniversary of the triathlon at Callaway Gardens. It is the oldest triathlon in the South and one of the longest continuous running triathlons in the continental United States. To register, visit www.active.com. Sunday night will be extra special with live music by Sons-N-Britches followed by a bonus Sunday night Balloon Glow.
Inside the Gardens, be sure to witness the flight of hundreds of blue butterflies as part of September’s special Blue Morpho Month. If the trend continues, for the month of September there will be more Blue Morphos on display in one place at Callaway Gardens’ Cecil B. Day Butterfly Center than any other place on the planet. There are also bicycle trails, Birds of Prey shows, floral displays, walking trails and more.
And, if you really want to fly, try out the new TreeTop Adventure**, a year-round attraction at Callaway Gardens featuring more than 30 obstacles and zip lines in the tree canopy. Be sure to make your reservation before your visit.
Want to be a part of the high-flying balloon action? Sign up to be on a Balloon Chase Crew for the weekend. Crew members are assigned to assist pilots throughout the weekend with setting up balloons, chasing them when they are in the air and then bringing them back to Callaway Gardens after landing. For more information, contact Andy Brown at 706-663-5043 or abrown@callawaygardens.com.
Festival admission is $25 per adult (ages 13-64); $20 per senior (65+); $12.50 per child (ages 6-12); and free for children 5 and younger (admission prices include tax). As an incentive to witness the morning launches, admission at the U.S. Hwy. 27 Beach gate will be half-price from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. This price includes access to Callaway Gardens and its many attractions and activities.
With proper identification, annual passholders can enter the Gardens with up to five guests in the same vehicle per day for free on Friday and before 9 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. They can enter for half-price after 9 a.m. each day.
Military personnel, including active duty, retired and Veterans, and up to five accompany guests in the same vehicle can enter the Gardens for half-price
To make the early arrival deal a little sweeter, the Exchange Club of Columbus will be serving an all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast for $5 per person (while supplies last) under the Beach Pavilion on Saturday and Sunday morning.
Don’t delay. Call now for reservations at 1.800.463.6990 or make reservations online at www.callawaygardens.com.
Callaway Gardens®, is in Pine Mountain, Ga., 60 minutes southwest of Atlanta and 30 minutes north of Columbus.
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*Ballooning is dependent on safe weather conditions including wind velocity and direction.
**Fee
Details are subject to change
Callaway Gardens 16th Annual Sky High Balloon Festival
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Please Note: Wind turbulence, direction and conditions for balloons are based on weather in the sky, not on the ground.
Friday, Aug. 29
8 a.m. to 8 p.m. First Qualifying Heats for the Nautique 2014 USA Wakesurf National Championships
10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Beach Activities: Swimming, Miniature Golf, Shuffleboard, Giant Chess and Checkers
3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Square 1 Activity Center Opens (Aqua Island*, Paddle Boats*, Spider Jump*, Xcelerator Water Slide*, Roadster Pedal Karts*, Chickadee Choo Choo Train*
Noon to 10 p.m. Sports on TV at the Beach Bar
3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Balloon Artist in the Beach Pavilion Area
4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Beach Concessions and Food Trucks
5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday Night Seafood Buffet at The Plant Room Restaurant
7 p.m. Live Music: The Regulars
Dusk Balloon Glow on Robin Lake Beach (Wind and weather conditions permitting)
Saturday, Aug. 30
6 a.m. Beach Gate Opens
6 a.m. to 9 a.m. Exchange Club of Columbus Pancake Breakfast ($5 per person)
7:15 a.m. Balloon Launch followed by Tethered Rides* (wind and weather conditions permitting)
8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Second Qualifying Heats of the Nautique 2014 USA Wakesurf National Championships
9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Classic Car Show at the Beach Dome.
10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Beach Activities: Swimming, Miniature Golf, Shuffleboard, Giant Chess and Checkers, Aqua Island*, Paddle Boats*, Spider Jump*, Xcelerator Water Slide*, Roadster Pedal Karts*, Chickadee Choo Choo Train* (1 p.m. to 6 p.m.)
11 a.m. Disc Dog Demonstrations
11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Kids Zone: Face Painting*, Trampoline Extreme* and more
11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Beach Concessions and Food Trucks
Noon to 10 p.m. College Football on TV at the Beach Bar
1 p.m. to 5 p.m. DJ Mikey J
3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Balloon Artist in the Beach Pavilion Area
3:30 p.m. Disc Dog Demonstrations
5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Special Saturday Night Italian Buffet at The Plant Room Restaurant
6 p.m. Balloon Launch (wind and weather conditions permitting)
7 p.m. Live Music: Final Answer
Dusk Performance by the On Target Pyrotechnic Skydiving Team (wind and weather conditions permitting)
Tethered balloon rides* available, wind turbulence and weather conditions permitting.
Sunday, Aug. 31
6 a.m. Beach Gate Open
6 a.m. to 9 a.m. Exchange Club of Columbus Pancake Breakfast ($5 per person)
7:15 a.m. Balloon Launch followed by Tethered Rides* (wind and weather conditions permitting)
7:50 a.m. Callaway Gardens Fitness Series 5K Run*
8 a.m. Callaway Gardens Fitness Series Triathlon*
10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Swimming, Miniature Golf, Table Tennis, Shuffleboard, Giant Chess and Checkers, Aqua Island*, Paddle Boats*, Flying Trapeze*, Rock Climbing Wall*, Spider Jump*, Xcelerator Water Slide*, Roadster Pedal Karts*, Chickadee Choo Choo Train* (1 p.m. to 6 p.m.)
11 a.m. Disc Dog Demonstration
11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Kids Zone: Face Painting*, Trampoline Extreme* and more
11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Concessions and Food Trucks
12:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Sports on TV at the Beach Bar
1p.m. to 5 p.m. DJ Mikey J
3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Balloon Artist in the Beach Pavilion Area
3:30 p.m. Disc Dog Demonstration
6 p.m. Balloon Launch (wind and weather conditions permitting)
7 p.m. Live Music: Sons-N-Britches
Dusk Balloon Glow on Robin Lake Beach (wind and weather conditions permitting)
Tethered balloon rides* available, wind turbulence and weather conditions permitting.
Monday, Sept. 1
(Free Gardens Admission)
10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Swimming, Miniature Golf, Shuffleboard, Giant Chess and Checkers, Aqua Island*, Paddle Boats*
Noon to 6 p.m. Sports on TV at the Beach Bar
Please note:
-Activities marked * require an additional fee each day.
-Events and activities are subject to change without notice or in case of inclement weather. No rain checks.
-Guests will be issued a wristband, which should be worn at all times and will be required for re-entry should a guest choose to leave.