Balloon Fest 1986: A Tragic Event in Cleveland

Background

• Purpose: A charity fundraiser to rebrand Cleveland and put it on the map.
• Objective: To surpass Disneyland's Guinness World Record for biggest simultaneous balloon launch (previous year).
• Organizers: United Way of Cleveland.
• Planning: 6 months, involved constructing a net the size of a city block.
• Date: September 27, 1986.
• Number of Balloons: 1.5 million.

Event Day

• Weather: Severe storm the previous night on Lake Erie.
• Missing Fishermen: Two men reported missing, suspected overboard due to the storm.
• Coast Guard: Initiated search and rescue operation before the balloon launch.

Balloon Launch

• Location: Cleveland's Public Square.
• Attendance: Over 100,000 people.
• Launch: Conducted ahead of schedule due to approaching rain.
• Spectacle: Initially a tremendous sight, creating a moment of triumph for Cleveland.

Unforeseen Consequences

• Wind and Weather Impact: Cold air and rain pushed balloons back to the ground.
• Chaos:
  • Balloons clogged Burke Lakefront Airport runways, suspended flights.
  • Balloons descended on streets, causing car accidents and road closures.
  • Bulldozers needed to clear streets.
• Search and Rescue Impact:
  • Balloons landed on Lake Erie making search efforts difficult.
  • Coast Guard's search for fishermen hampered by balloons at sea.

Aftermath

• Search Called Off: On September 29, search for fishermen was finally called off.
• Fishermen's Fate: Bodies of missing fishermen washed ashore shortly after.
• Guinness World Records: Event featured in 1988 edition but was the last due to discontinuation of the category.