Cleveland balloon fest

Balloon Fest 1986 | Cleveland Ohio

Ballonfest '86 did set a Guiness World Record for the largest ever mass release of balloons.

At the moment of liftoff, the mass of 1.5 million balloons was a beautiful, dramatic sight. In the hours, weeks and months that followed, though, the fate of all those balloons became a public relations mess.

Pro Football Hall of Fame Bridge - Canton, Ohio. This was taken during the hof kick off celebrations

In 1986, organizers with United Way of Cleveland thought they had the perfect idea to generate a little publicity and create a beautiful spectacle in the process. With a crowd of volunteers working all hours, they filled 1.5 million helium balloons, and released them all at once. Unfortunately, they had no idea the terrible consequences they would unleash by doing so, and their tragic mistake led to the deaths of two people and millions of dollars in damages through lawsuits. It all began…

Scenic beauty, fall fun, and a balloon launch? No wonder Maize Valley's fall harvest celebration is the best weekend trip near Cleveland!