Macomb Balloon Rally, Macomb, Illinois

Every year in early September, the peaceful expanse of the Vince Grady Soccer Field in Macomb, Illinois, is suddenly clustered with crowds of spectators and the huge looming shadows of multiple giants. The multicolored balloons arise from their beginnings as limp sheets of fabric to become fire-breathing titans of the skies.

The crowd at the 21st annual Macomb Balloon Rally eagerly awaited the ascension of all 29 balloons from Western Illinois University in Macomb. Along with the balloons’ takeoff, many other events were planned in conjunction with the Balloon Rally to appeal to tourists and Macomb natives alike, making the weekend an ideal autumn excursion.

At the downtown square, local shops hosted sidewalk sales on both Friday and Saturday, offering tantalizing free samples of food and discounts on other merchandise. The murmur of excited townspeople floated pleasantly in the cool September air, with vendors offering homegrown produce, personal pieces of artwork and various other wares to browsing shoppers.

At night the square transformed into a spectacle of light and sound. The streets were roped off to make room for the Park ’N Cruise car show, where car fanatics and curious passers-by had the opportunity to take a gander at the various automobiles. Some of the cars were flashy speedsters, modified for optimum acceleration and power. Other cars were purely show material, with spinning hubcaps, flashing LED lights and glowing interiors.

Clusters of adolescents admired a glittering SUV with chrome hubcaps, halogen headlamps, leather interior and an abundance of embedded flatscreen televisions. The older crowd seemed more appreciative of the restored models.

“You just don’t get to see classic cars like these out on the streets these days,” said Tim Mason, a Macomb native, as he eyed an elegant Chevrolet.

As the sun set on Saturday night and a local band, The Daddy O’s, began entertaining the town, the balloons put on a magnificent show at the traditional balloon glow. At the sound of a car horn signal, all the landed balloons shot up a breath of fire, illuminating them like decorative lanterns.

Lighting all the balloons at once created enough of a glow to bathe the field in a warm, soft light. At another signal, the balloons coughed the fire in spurts, flashing like fireflies in the thick summer air. The smell of corn dogs and funnel cakes floated on the breeze as the warm glow from the fires flickered against the night sky. The air was filled with the sound of the gleeful screaming of youngsters and the barking of local dogs.

The night is a feast for the senses.

The Macomb Balloon Rally also gives its patrons the chance to take a ride through the air in one of the many impressive inflatables.

“It was awesome,” said Colleen Carlson, a Macomb resident, as she stepped down from the basket of one of the balloons. Carlson was one of the lucky citizens selected to lift off with an aeronaut over the weekend. “[It was] one of the most amazing experiences of my life. I highly recommend it.”

When asked to describe what she found most fascinating about the ride, Carlson grinned and leaned in close. “You can hear absolutely everything. I could hear every single conversation people were having below us. It was wild.”

Excitement buzzed through the crowd, and each balloon captain seemed eager to stop and swap stories with anyone willing to lend an ear.

Young children skipped through the maze of balloons, baskets and automobiles, playing tag and using the bright canvas balloons and wicker baskets as safe bases.

Balloon captains distributed trading cards featuring a balloon, which could be collected and traded with other captains throughout the rally. Donna Carlton-Vish of the balloon titled Sunny Side Up also handed out temporary balloon tattoos to the wide-eyed youngsters who were brave enough to approach the basket. In keeping with this year’s theme of Pirates Over Macomb, Carlton-Vish and other balloon crews dressed in appropriate pirate garb, complete with eyepatches and parrots.

The bustling rally hosted three balloon flights, two in the evening and one at dawn.

For three early September days, the entire city comes alive to participate in the variety of scheduled activities. At the end of it all, the crowds slowly dissipate, and the stage is deserted. The trampled field begins to retake its shape.

The giant balloons exhale with a shiver and one by one are pulled to the ground, where they are deflated and rolled into tight little bundles. The colorful packages of canvas are then tossed into their respective vans, and the crews head out in search of their next open skyline.