I am delighted to announce there is to be a new event for Eastbourne in 2017 and it is FREE FOR EVERYONE TO VISIT. We are bringing a Hot Air Balloon Festival to Hampden Park with 20+ balloons on the last weekend of July (29th and 30th) but not just balloons, oh no!
It isn’t on the sea front, it isn’t in a park off the sea front, it is in Hampden Park, one stop on the train. Put the dates in your diary for a FUN WEEKEND.
This simple idea has morphed into a mini County Show. There will be a fleet of visiting helicopters coming in mid morning (long after the balloons have flown) and they will stay till mid afternoon and people will be able to go up close, look, chat, sit in. The balloons will fly dawn and dusk (weather permitting) and when they are in the arena people will be able to talk to the pilots, climb in a basket, experience the ‘feel’ though due to regulations it won’t be possible to buy a flight on the weekend though there will be a possibility to buy a voucher to fly another day.
There will be a marquee with a food theme and Gary Williams from Ambience Catering Solutions will be submitting himself to a ‘Ready, Steady, Cook’ event on both afternoons but there will also be other demonstrations, ideas on healthy eating, lots of things to eat and try.
There will be a marquee with a floral theme and the ladies from the Friendly Flower Shop group will be arranging demonstrations and competitions and a ‘Gardeners Question Time’.
There will be a dog show with entry categories for all and a great ‘fun’ theme to the event.
There will be a fun fair with entertainment for young and old, helter-skelter or bouncy castle, join in the fun or just have a candy floss.
There will be a stage where you will be entertained with a Show Case for all the bright talent in Hampden Park and Eastbourne as a whole. An opportunity for all and fun for the family.
There will be a children’s area with opportunities to build and fly a kite, enjoy some challenges, have a bit of face painting, ride on a miniature steam train, try out a climbing wall and lots more.
Food and drink is available all over the Festival with elegant cream teas on the lawn by the lake to wine o’clock picnics by the stage. Try out the Farmers Market, or the Craft Market, or find a bargain in the Street Market.
The Saturday night offers the highlight of the weekend with the balloons inflating and tethering and then burning off to pop music in the dusk, pictures on our website to give you a feel of this fun finale and, of course the food and fun fair will still be there to entertain you.
BUT, of course, what we have come to see is the balloons flying dawn and dusk over Eastbourne. There will be opportunities for corporate hospitality, advertising for our business in the programme or via a banner around the arena, display stands and much more.
