Hot air balloons over Frankenmuth Memorial Day weekend

May 7, 2014 - PRLog -- Thirty of the most experienced hot air balloon pilots in the nation will float over the Frankenmuth skies at “Balloons over Bavaria,” the seventh annual  hot air balloon event hosted on Memorial Day weekend, May 23 -26, 2014.

Balloonists will compete and fly for accuracy in flight tasks and hitting targets, on the ground, in six flight attempts over the weekend. The free event is sponsored by the Frankenmuth Bavarian Inn (http://www.bavarianinn.com/) and Gordon Food Service, along with with many other supporters.

“The competing pilots are from three surrounding states and are from as far away as Iowa. Ten of these pilots rank in the top 100 in North America,” states Jim Engel, chief operating officer, Bavarian Inn Lodge and event chairman. Engel is working with key leaders who have hosted national  and world hot air balloon championships to orchestrate the competition over and around Frankenmuth.

Pilots from Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Ohio and Michigan will compete to win the competition.  Six flight attempts will occurr at approximately 6:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. ET from Friday evening through Monday morning.  A number of new balloons will be joining in this year, so spectators can look forward to new sights and colors flying and glowing at this year’s event.

Held in conjunction with Dog Bowl 2014, (http://www.bavarianinn.com/play/dog-bowl-and-hot-air-ball...) the balloon championship features an elite group of 30 balloon teams, assembled by a core team of balloon pilots and local planners. Derrick Jones, competition director for Balloons Over Bavaria states, “The Frankenmuth balloon events have become one of the favored Midwest balloon events because of the family friendly aspect of Frankenmuth; the unique architecture to fly over, and the tie-in with the Dog Bowl Olympic events and the Tour De Frankenmuth cycling events.”

In addition to viewing the balloon competition, visitors will experience the Balloon Glow Village on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings at River Place Field, giving them an opportunity to walk under and amongst 15 tethered hot air balloons that glow and flicker in the evening sky. This free event allows spectators to meet the pilots, get autographs and even take pictures with their children in / or next to the pilot and his basket.

A highlight of the event is the free fireworks display on Sunday, May 25 at approximately 9:45 p.m. Bring the entire family to see hot air balloons glowing under a shower of patriotic fireworks, with a special salute to military service personnel.

Piloting hot air balloons is a growing sport that is sophisticated and technical. The use of websites to track wind speeds and directions for every thousand foot level combined with the use of GPS technology allows pilots to better target their destination. This brings an unparalleled precision to the sport. During the morning and evening flights, the pilots will navigate their balloon to certain targets, placed and assigned to them by the officials.

Experience balloon Launches and flyovers at River Place field each morning and evening of Memorial Day Weekend.  See a complete schedule for the Balloons Over Bavaria  Balloon Championships at www.dogfunfest.com/balloons/.   Follow the action on Facebook by liking “Balloons Over Bavaria” & Frankenmuth Hot Air Balloon Glow Village.  Twitter Updates @BalloonsInMuth. Admission to balloon events is free.

About the Bavarian Inn Lodge (bavarianinn.com): The Bavarian Inn Lodge, nestled along the Cass River in Michigan’s No. 1 tourist attraction – Frankenmuth – is the state’s largest Indoor Water Park Hotel! The Lodge has 360 European-themed guest rooms, including whirlpool and family suites, four indoor pools, three whirlpools, two water slides, a miniature golf course, two gift shops, two lounges and two restaurants — all under one roof. Their expansive 35,000 square feet Family Fun Center houses two dramatic waterslides, three pools and two whirlpools, over 100 video and redemption games, a two-story children’s play village and Willy’s Kingdom indoor mini-golf course. Guests can also enjoy live, year round, nightly entertainment and test their own musical skills during weekend family karaoke shows. In 28 years of business, the Bavarian Inn Lodge has been an important destination for travelers, evidenced by the 1.25 million room-nights that have been booked there since its opening, along with its top rating on TripAdvisor®.