Hot Air Balloon Festival

Hot Air Balloon Festival patrons to view replica of famed Breitling








By Dave Rogers, The Ottawa Citizen May 28, 2010





Gatineau's 23rd Hot Air Balloon Festival from Sept. 3 to 6 will feature a replica of Breitling Orbiter 3, the first balloon to complete a trip around the world.
The Breitling's pilot, Brian Jones, who in 1999 travelled non-stop around the world in 477 hours 47 minutes, will fly the replica balloon during the festival.
Featuring 14 special-shape balloons this year, the festival began in 1988 as part of a campaign to promote Gatineau tourism and attract volunteers.
The four-day event was a quick success and in recent years has attracted more than 200,000 paying spectators. Organizers expect similar crowds this year. The event generates more than $8 million in ticket sales, making it Gatineau's biggest summer tourist draw.
The festival is held at Parc de la Baie on Jacques Cartier Street beside the Ottawa River opposite Rockcliffe Park.
The City of Gatineau is contributing $467,000 in funding and services to this year's festival. Mayor Marc Bureau said about 1,600 volunteers would participate.
Organizers said fans of Pixar Studios' animated film Finding Nemo would enjoy watching a Wally the Clown Fish balloon.
Other balloons will include Paddy the Shamrock and two Brazilian balloons, Buzzy and Angel. The festival will include Maximus the Beagle, Lady Bug, Joey and Lilly, Little Bees, Jumpin Jack, Clown-N-Around, Burnie the Little Devil and the Quebec balloon le Fou du Roi.
The festival, sponsored by Loto-Québec, will offer more than 300 acts in 60 hours of performances. The event will open with 20-year-old singer Bobby Bazini and Canadian pop group Hedley.
The show on Sept. 4 will feature Quebec singers Laurence Jalbert, Luce Dufault, Johanne Blouin and France d'Amour. The Sept. 5 performance includes Sylvain Cossette, Bruno Pelletier and Dan Bigras.
The festival wraps up Sept. 6 with a show by the Cowboys Fringants.
Wristband passports to the festival will be available at montgolfieresgatineau.com soon. The cost is $32 for all four days or $59 for an amusement ride package. Admission is free for children 10 and under.
The one-day wristband passport for the Friday show will be on sale during the opening day for $24. Admission on the remaining days will be $18.
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See information on the Balloon Festival at our special festival site, ottawacitizen.com/festivals


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