Ogden Valley Balloon Fest postponed until 2011

EDEN — Organizers of the Ogden Valley Balloon Festival voted Thursday to postpone the annual hot air balloon event until August 2011.

The extra year of preparation will give the festival's volunteer board time to solicit corporate sponsors and grant money and work on scheduling for the event.

Various other community events caused organizing delays, the board stated in a news release. But the board also thanked other event coordinators for trying to work with the balloon festival.

The 2009 balloon festival featured 19 traditional balloons and one giant pink Energizer Bunny balloon, which ascended above Eden, in the Ogden Valley.

The board is also pursuing teaming up with other valley organizations to help improve the event and add much needed manpower to the event planning efforts.

"If all goes as planned, this breather will result in a really fantastic event in 2011 that offers increased community involvement," said board chairwoman Gladys Mundelius, in a news release.

Directions and information about the 2011 festival will be posted on the festival's website: www.ogdenvalleyballoonfestival.com.

For Utahns who want to get their hot air balloon fix, there are two opportunities in northern Utah in 2010.

America's Freedom Festival at Provo features a balloon festival July 2, 3 and 5.

The Antelope Island Balloon and Kite Stampede, now in its fifth year, will take place Labor Day weekend, Sept. 3-5, at Antelope Island State Park.

— Joseph M. Dougherty