The Western Kentucky Botanical Garden in Owensboro wraps up the summer with Balloons Over The Garden, the last weekend of August. Originally part of the Dazzling Daylillies Festival last June, the event was rescheduled due to weather. On Sounds Good, Matt Markgraf speaks with Rob Blackham, Vice President of the Western Kentucky Botanical Garden Board and engineer involved with "Balloons Over The Garden" about how one can cross 'riding in a hot air balloon' off their bucket list and whether or not 'selfie sticks' are allowed on the ride.
When you're in the hot air balloon and after the flame is turned off, it gets absolutely quiet, Blackham learned from conversations with the operators. You can hear people's conversations on the ground, motorcycles take off down the street, dogs barking in the distance. It's a sensory experience. Once you're up over the treetops, you can see the hilly landscape and up higher, you'll see buildings and other landmarks.
There are two types of flights - tethered (50 to 60 feet in the air) and untethered full ride at a higher height (a one hour flight). Cameras are allowed, but if you bring a camera, make sure it's tethered to your arm in some way so you don't drop it. Selfie sticks are okay... for now. The garden is open and accessible during the festival. Blackham says amateur photographers are welcome to take photos of the balloons and flowers.
Balloons Over the Garden is Friday, August 28 through Sunday, August 30. There are a few seats still available for the untethered ride (reservation required). For the tethered ride, show up on the day you'd like to ride either Saturday at 6 a.m. or 6 p.m. Events start at 5:30 a.m. Food, music and more will also be going on during the festival in the garden. In the evening on Saturday, see a "balloon glow" where they'll flicker their lights on the ground, like a holiday display.
Rob Blackham is Vice President of the Western Kentucky Botanical Garden Board and engineer involved with "Balloons Over The Garden" August 28 through 30th in Owensboro. There are still a few seats available for the un-tethered rides.
Call the balloon line at 270-993-1234 for more information or visit the Western Kentucky Botanical Garden website.
