Polo and Balloon Festival at Polo West, May 11, 12 and 13
This event is being held in honor of the Wounded Warriors Project and the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund. This event will be free to the public with all donations collected going to the foregoing charities. Polo West is truly honored to be able to be a part of this event and have donated land, materials and manpower to make this event a success. Our partners with this event are Ford Trucks and Polo America with assistance from the US Marine Corp who will provide volunteers. The details are as follows:
The event: The basics of the event are two polo games and 22 hot balloons. The event will be spread over 3 days, but only a few hours each day. We anticipate approx. 2,500 people attending the Saturday evening event with 1,500 people on Friday evening and 1,000 on Saturday morning and 800 on Sunday morning.
On Friday, May 11, 2012 gates open at 5 PM. From 6 PM to 7 PM there will be a polo match. As soon as the polo match is over approx. 22 hot air balloons will be placed throughout the polo field, inflated and tethered in place. Wounded Warriors, Veterans and others will be able to occupy balloons with the balloons rising approx 150 feet (depending on winds) while still tethered in place. Spectators will have the opportunity to walk around the inflated balloons which are as high as a 7 story building. Spectators will be invited for tethered balloon rides for a $5.00 donation to the charities. This will last until 8:30 PM.
On Saturday, May 12, 2012 the gates will open at 6 AM. The balloons inflate at 7:00 AM and rise in a mass ascension at 7:30 AM. Spectators are welcomed on the field as the balloons inflate and leave. The balloons will all contain Wounded Warriors who will be individually introduced and honored as they make their way to the balloon assigned to them. Although early in the morning this is by far the most touching part of the weekend as we are honored to learn who the Wounded Warrior is and what he or she sacrificed for America. The balloons will be retrieved when they land and be brought back to Polo West. This spectator portion of the event ends with gates closing at 9:00 AM.
Gates will reopen at 5:00 PM for a 6:00 PM polo match. After the polo match the balloons will be placed on the field for a “balloon glow” at 8:30 PM and the honoring of all the Wounded Warriors and Veterans. This is the evening we expect the biggest turnout. All will be completed by 10 PM.
On Sunday, May 13, 2012 the gates will open at 6 AM. The balloons inflate at 7:00 AM and rise in a mass ascension at 7:30 AM. Spectators are welcomed on the field as the balloons inflate and leave. The balloons will all contain Wounded Warriors. The balloons will be retrieved when they land and be brought back to Polo West. This spectator portion of the event ends with gates closing at 9:00 AM. This is the final event of the Polo and Balloon Festival.
This event is something Polo West is very proud to be a part of and we hope you will be able to join us. Polo America has a webpage talking about our event. It is https://www.poloamerica.com/eventschedule.php . Click and enjoy. My contact info is above if you need to reach me. I look forward to seeing you at this great event.
Mike Nelson for Polo West