My Waterloo Days Returns to Byrnes Park

Hot-air balloons will be returning to Byrnes Park as part of this year’s My Waterloo Days festival.

Organizers of the annual community celebration, scheduled for June 12-15, unveiled their “Fun is in the Air” theme Friday before floating this year’s chairperson, KWWL-TV news anchor Amanda Goodman, off into the frozen horizon in a balloon.

The popular hot-air balloon rally in Byrnes Park was a staple of the MWD festival before it was discontinued in 2007. It returned last year to the former Grand Hotel site downtown. Only four were able to launch due to bad weather.

“As long as Main Street Waterloo is involved, the heart of My Waterloo Days will always be downtown,” said Jeff Kurtz, Main Street’s executive director.

“However, when Main Street took over management of the festival years ago we heard from the public loud and clear when they harkened to the good old days of the festival,” he said. “We’ve worked hard to reintroduce old favorites … but by far the biggest request was to return to Byrnes Park with the hot-air balloons.”

The balloons will launch elsewhere but float over Byrnes Park to drop sandbags at targets. Festival volunteer Mason Fromm said 21 balloonists so far have verbally committed to participate.

Another major change this year is the later dates. The MWD festival was traditionally held the first weekend in June.

“We want to make sure the kids are out of school,” said Goodman, noting make-up days from winter school cancellations could cause the family-oriented festival to take place before the school year ends.

Organizers also hope moving to mid-June give them a better chance to avoid rainy weather and thunderstorms, which hurt attendance last year. The new dates will overlap with the annual Cedar Trails Festival, but steps are being taken to incorporate some bicycle rides into MWD.

Festival events will include the traditional People in the Park on Thursday and Friday, parade downtown Friday night and the Dragon Boats competition and Waterhawks water skiing show on Sunday.

The “Back at Byrnes” activities will include children’s activities, food vendors, beer garden, entertainment, laser light show as well as a hot air balloon night glow.

Volunteer opportunities and sponsorships for all events, including individual balloon teams, are available. Contact Janelle Darst at Janelle.darst@gmail.com or 231-2435.

For more information visit www.mywaterloodays.org or find My Waterloo Days on Facebook.

via – WFC Courier