CAMBRIDGE – The Cambridge Valley Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a FREE raffle for a balloon ride to encourage everyone to shop locally this month and throughout the year.

From now through May 30, every time you make a purchase at a participating member store or business, you can enter a free drawing for a balloon ride at this year’s Cambridge Valley Balloon Festival. The ride will be available on Saturday evening, June 2 (weather permitting). You must be at least 18 years old to win.

 Exciting Additions to 2012 Balloon Festival

 CAMBRIDGE – The Cambridge Valley Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce some new additions to the 2012 Cambridge Valley Balloon Festival schedule. The festival, now in its 12th year, is organized by the Chamber and features four launches of 10 hot air balloons (Friday & Saturday evenings and Saturday & Sunday mornings) as well as dozens of community events and activities to keep the crowds busy between the launches. Balloon launches occur at the Cambridge Central School on Route 22.

CRUISE-IN & AUTO SHOW

The Cambridge Lions Club has teamed up with Cambridge Connects and area auto enthusiasts to present the First Balloon Festival Cruise-in and Auto Show. On Friday evening, June 1 from 5-8 p.m., car owners are welcome to join the free cruise-in on Broad Street in front of the Cambridge Hotel. This activity will occur in conjunction with the Hotel’s Block Party, featuring “Slow Burn” from 7-11 p.m.

On Saturday, June 2, VARAK Park and Pearl Street (right off Main Street) will be filled from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. with classic, specialty, and collectible cars participating in the Auto Show. There is an entry fee for vehicles and trophies will be awarded at the end of the day. Cars, trucks, motorcycles, and tractors are welcome. No charge for spectators

The Lions Club will conduct a food concession and Cambridge Connects is offering children’s activities. St. Luke's Church will also have a Kid's Zone & Prayer Zone. Adjacent to VARAK Park and across the street on the lawn of the Rice Mansion Inn, an antique vendor sale will be set up on Saturday and Sunday to benefit AAU Basketball. The Chamber of Commerce will have a festival merchandise & information booth in the park as well.

Live music will be presented in the park throughout the day, thanks to the Chamber and several sponsors, including Leon Barkley Real Estate, Happy at Home Pet Sitting, the Garden Shop, and Penny Spiezio, Assoc. Broker for Leon Barkley. Among the scheduled  performers scheduled are the Hill Country Cloggers, the Drytown Drifters, and the Tonebenders.

ROAMING RAILROAD

A new family attraction, The Roaming Railroad, will be present at this year’s Festival. This quiet diesel powered engine pulls open tram cars and will offer rides at the school launches in the evenings, during the auto show on Saturday, at the fireworks on Friday evening, and at the Taste of Cambridge on Saturday night. This fun family ride is in addition to the carnival at the school and is not part of the carnival wristbands. A portion of the ride price benefits the Balloon Festival.

The Roaming Railroad is trackless, so it is able to transport passengers around the school grounds, in VARAK Park at the auto show, and around the guest home park. It can carry up to 27 passengers, including adults, making it a fun addition for the whole family. The Roaming Railroad has participated in the Big E and other festivals, fairs, and community events in New England. The railroad is not able to transport passengers on public roads, however, and will not transport between festival venues.

MORE LIVE MUSIC

The Chamber has added live music at two other events this year. On Friday evening, the Washington County Band, a 40-piece orchestra, will perform at the Festival Opening Ceremonies at 6 p.m. at the Cambridge Central School. They will entertain during the ceremonies and while crowds watch the balloon inflation.

On Friday evening from 7:30 p.m. until the first rockets fire, Robert Wuagneaux will perform in the Cambridge Guest Home Park on South Park Street. This versatile entertainer will offer a wide selection of music while the crowds gather for the Fireworks Extravaganza, presented by Alonzo. School House Pizza will provide a food concession and the First Baptist Church will be selling glow items. The Chamber will have a merchandise and information booth at this location as well.

FESTIVAL DETAILS

For latest information on the festival, set for June 1-3, 2012. A tentative schedule is available to download. Several items are still available for sponsorship and volunteers are always welcome. Contact 518-677-0887 or e-mail cambridgechamber@gmail.com if you would like to be a part of this year’s event.

CAMBRIDGE – The Annual Kick-off Reception for the Cambridge Valley Balloon Festival will be held on May 18, 2012, at the Cambridge Hotel, 4 West Main Street, Cambridge. The event will run from 6-9 p.m.

     For the first time, the Festival Committee has selected a photographer as the Festival Artist. Meaghan Wilkins of Wilkins Photography has amassed an extensive collection of photos from the 11 previous festivals. Each photo is uniquely Cambridge and features the local community and landscape. Using these photographs, the Chamber has created a lovely 18-month calendar to support the 2012 festival. The calendar will be revealed for the first time at the Kick-off Party.

    Several of the featured photos will be displayed and made available for sale at the reception. Meaghan is generously donating a portion of the proceeds from the sale of her framed prints to the Festival. All proceeds from the calendar go to the Festival.

 2012 LOGO REVEALED

     The logo for the 12th Annual Cambridge Valley Balloon Festival will be revealed at the reception as well. Julie Duggan, local artist and art teacher at Cambridge Central School, created the logo, which will be featured on the 2012 festival T-shirt, the souvenir program, and a collectible pin.
     Merchandise featuring the logo will be available for sale at the Kick-off Reception.

MAKE RESERVATIONS

     The Kick-off Reception is always a fun event and several of the featured balloonists usually attend, along with their sponsors, to celebrate the return of the festival to Cambridge.

   Reservations are required and space is limited. To reserve your place, call the Chamber office, 518-677-0887, or e-mail cambridgechamber@gmail.com. Admission is $20 and includes light hors d’oeuvres and a non-alcoholic beverage. Cash bar will be available to those 21 and older. If space allows, walk-ins will be accepted at a rate of $25 per person.

The Cambridge community is gearing up for its 12th Annual Cambridge Valley Balloon Festival, set for Friday, June 1 through Sunday, June 3, 2012, in and around the beautiful historic village of Cambridge, NY.

CAMBRIDGE – For the 12th year in a row, the Cambridge skies will be graced with beautiful hot air balloons during the Cambridge Valley Balloon Festival, organized by the Cambridge Valley Chamber of Commerce. This year’s event will be held from June 1-3, 2012.
As organizers of the event, the Chamber of Commerce puts together the schedule of festival activities, which will again include four launches of 10 hot air balloons (Friday & Saturday evening and Saturday & Sunday morning). All launches take place at the Cambridge Central School on Route 22 (wind and weather permitting). Evening launches typically occur between 6:30-7:30 pm; morning launches between 5:30-6:30 am.

SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE
     Between the launches, the Cambridge community throws out the red carpet and provides a myriad of activities to entertain the crowds.
    Community businesses, through the Chamber, host a fantastic fireworks display on Friday evening at the Cambridge Guest Home Park on South Union Street.
     On Saturday, the Chamber organizes a “Taste of Cambridge” at the same location to showcase local food producers and restaurants. The “Taste” is followed by the annual Moon Glow, a spectacular night time display of tethered hot air balloons that are lit from inside in time to music.
     Sunday brings an end to the official festival activities with a Pilots Breakfast (location to be announced). This is a great opportunity to meet the pilots and discuss the details of ballooning with the experts.

COMMUNITY SPONSORED EVENTS
     Local organizations augment the festival with activities to entertain crowds between the launches and to showcase the Cambridge community. At the school location there are rides, carnival games, food vendors, and sporting events.
     In the Village, activities such as craft fairs, farmers’ markets, museum tours, concerts, and gallery events occur. There is talk of an antique car show for 2012 and some other new and exciting surprises.
     Information will be posted on this page as it is finalized and details become available. The Chamber will also distribute a commemorative program and aschedule of events in May.
     Community groups wanting to be on the schedule should submit their events in writing to: CVCC Balloon, PO Box 405, Cambridge, NY 12816 or via e-mail to cambridgechamber@gmail.com. Please do not leave a message on the Chamber phone. Deadline is May 1, 2012.

SUPPORT FOR THE FESTIVAL
     Festival themed merchandise will be available for sale beginning in May. These items support the festival and make it possible for most activities to occur free of charge. Last year’s tie-dye T-shirts were a tremendous hit!
     Sponsors are also crucial to the success of the balloon festival. Opportunities range from sponsorship of an entire balloon ($1000) to event sponsorships ($500-$250). Gold and silver sponsorships are available for $100 and $50, respectively. For a list of sponsorship opportunities, click here.
    Donations toward to fireworks are always needed and welcome. To help keep this fantastic display a part of our annual event, send donations in any denomination to CVCC - Fireworks, PO Box 405, Cambridge, NY 12816. Individuals or businesses making gifts of $250 or more will be acknowledged at the event as fireworks sponsors.

GET INVOLVED – VOLUNTEER!
     An event like the balloon festival needs many volunteers. If you cannot support the Balloon Festival financially, perhaps you can donate your time. There are many jobs during the festival weekend, from selling merchandise and tickets to passing out programs. Behind the scenes help is needed as well. Shifts can be as little as an hour or for several hours, depending on your availability. Send an e-mail to the Chamber if you are willing to donate your time. We will contact you to discuss the schedule. All volunteers get a free T-shirt for helping out (while they last)!
     Individuals interested in getting involved with planning the Festival are welcome to attend a Balloon Festival Committee meeting, held at the Chamber Office, 14A South Park Street, Cambridge, on the last Wednesday of each month from 6-7 p.m. Come share your ideas!

MORE INFORMATION…
     Visit this site often between now and the festival. We will post many updates! You can also “like” us on Facebook to keep up

Call us at 518-677-0887 for information. * Balloon Festivals rely on good weather. The balloons
can't fly if it is raining or windy.