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150 balloon handlers to assist Santa Claus
By Kathy Antoniotti
Beacon Journal staff writer
Published on Wednesday, Nov 12, 2008
When Santa comes to town this holiday season, he'll again be accompanied by giant, helium-filled balloons.
But the city of Akron is looking for volunteers so the balloons won't fly away during the annual Welcome Santa parade.
Yvette Davidson, Akron's special events coordinator, said 150 volunteers are needed to keep the five balloons safely gliding down Main Street.
''We will have experienced handlers coming from the [Goodyear] Airdock to train balloon handlers the morning of the parade,'' Davidson said.
The parade will kick off at noon Nov. 29 at the Spaghetti Warehouse, 520 S. Main St. It will travel north on Main Street, turn west at Bowery Street and end on Water Street behind Lock 3.
Those who volunteer to help handle the balloons must be at least 18 years old, in good health and able to walk a mile. They will be expected to report
for training at the Spaghetti Warehouse parking lot at 10 a.m. and work until 2 p.m.
This is the second year the big balloons will join Santa in the parade.
''We believe we helped to bring out the large crowds downtown last year,'' said Ron Syroid, communications chairman of the Lighter Than Air Society, which sponsored the balloons last year.
This year, sponsorship and planning for moving the huge balloons down Main Street has been the job of the city, Davidson said.
''It was something we wanted to continue with, so we offered to take it over,'' she said.
Akron Deputy Mayor Dave Lieberth said the city is soliciting corporate sponsors to help defray the costs and help to underwrite the project. All but one of the balloons has a sponsor.
''Aside from the money, sponsorship comes with a team effort to man the balloons,'' Lieberth said. ''We are encouraging teams of balloon wranglers to come dressed in shirts or jackets to identify the sponsor.''
The 48-foot-tall balloons featured in Akron's parade — a clown, a kangaroo, a train, a snowman and a dragon — will be similar to, but smaller than, those in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City. They are being supplied by Bill Smith of Balloonworks in Williamsport, Pa.
The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. built and tested helium characters at the Wingfoot Airdock until 1982.
Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer balloon wrangler should contact Nolan Scales at the Akron Recreation Bureau at 330-375-2836.
Kathy Antoniotti can be reached at 330-996-3565 or kantoniotti@thebeaconjournal.com.
When Santa comes to town this holiday season, he'll again be accompanied by giant, helium-filled balloons.
Get the full article here.
Comments
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Akron, OH
Posted 08:21 AM, 11/12/2008
I offered to volunteer. I never got a call back. I don't think they are that hard up.
akron, oh
Posted 12:27 PM, 11/12/2008
Well I hope the adults this year have more manners than the last 2 years... We've taken our grandchildren, gotten there early so we could get them a spot they could see..had the adults come and stand in front of them blocking their view. When we have said something to them..they look at you like you are stupid! ADULTS STAY OUT FROM IN FROM OF THE LITTLE ONES SO THEY CAN SEE THE PARADE!!
