By Tom Mark

Balloons Over Vernon

Jan 2, 2018 | 11:59 AM

Picture:Vernon Winter Carnival

Anyone driving around Vernon late Monday morning would have seen some hot air balloons hanging over the city.

Members of the North Okanagan Hot Air Balloon Society were celebrating the start of the new year..

Society President Jerry Brassard says 4 balloons went up, but a lack of wind and the cold brought them down early.

“We lifted off from across Home Depot and they didn’t really travel that far. They were up for about an hour of so, but as far as distance traveled they didn’t go very far. You can only goes where the wind takes you.”

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As a result, one of the balloons had to land in the Super Store parking lot.

Another in a church parking while a 3rd came down in a vacant lot.

The society is gearing up for the balloon festival during Winter Carnival

” It was a bit of a struggle with fundraising this year. We could use some more sponsorship. We just managed to scrape enough funds to put the event on.”

Brassard says they did get some money from Tourism Vernon but is hoping some local businesses will help out with sponsorships.

There is no plan to take people up for rides at this point.

But the annual Balloon Glow is planned for Polson Park, weather permitting.

“If the temperature gets too warm and it’s all muck and what not at Polson Park, if it’s too muddy they won’t let us in there.”

The Village Green Hotel parking lot is the alternate site.

So far, 13 balloons are registered for the weekend event February 9th to 11th.

by Tom Mark