Crew training for this year’s Balloon Fest was held on Wednesday evening, led by local pilot Kevin Hinzman. Crew members were instructed on safety gear, equipment care, chase and landing protocols, and logistics. Volunteers will be paired with pilots to serve as crew during Balloon Fest, assisting with inflating, chasing, and packing away the hot air balloons before and after scheduled flights. Although the crew training has finished, Balloon Fest is still accepting additional volunteers, who will be able to learn from pilots and crew members on-site.
Crew will take part in balloon flights throughout the weekend as scheduled, weather permitting:
- Friday, August 21: 6:00am and 5:30pm, 7:30pm Glow
- Saturday, August 22: 6:00am and 5:30pm, 7:30pm Glow
- Sunday, August 23: 6:00am and 5:30pm
Anyone interested in volunteering should email the chamber or send a message to Centralia Balloon Fest’s Facebook page. They will need a full name and phone number for a pilot to contact them with additional information.
