Purpose: To rebrand Cleveland and improve its reputation by setting a record for the largest simultaneous balloon launch.
Organizer: United Way of Cleveland.
Inspiration: Disneyland's Guinness World Record for the biggest balloon launch the previous year.
Planning and Preparation
Planning Duration: 6 months.
Resources: Construction of a net the size of a city block and thousands of volunteers needed to fill 1.5 million balloons.
Event Date: September 27, 1986.
Events Leading to Balloon Fest
Weather Conditions: A severe storm hit Lake Erie the night before the event.
Incident: Two fishermen went missing due to the storm, prompting a Coast Guard search.
The Balloon Launch
Spectacle: Over 100,000 people gathered; balloons were released ahead of schedule due to weather concerns.
Record Set: Guinness World Record for the simultaneous launch of 1.5 million balloons.
The Aftermath
Immediate Issues:
Weather caused balloons to descend quickly.
Chaos ensued as balloons clogged runways at Burke Lakefront Airport, causing flight suspensions.
Balloons caused road closures and several car accidents.
Balloon descent into Lake Erie hampered the Coast Guard search for missing fishermen.
Consequences
Search for Fishermen: The balloon chaos made it nearly impossible to locate the missing men; search was ultimately called off.
Fatal Outcome: Both fishermen's bodies were found washed ashore two days after the event.
Legacy
Guinness Record: Balloon Fest was included in the 1988 edition of The Guinness Book of World Records but was later removed as the category was discontinued.
Reputation: Instead of improving Cleveland's image, the event went down in history as a fatal disaster.