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McHenry County-area hot air balloon operators confident in safety of rides

November 19, 2020 at 12:22 pm CST

Sarah Nader - snader@shawmedia.com Organizers of the inaugural Harvard Balloon Fest are prepared to host about 10,000 people a day Labor Day weekend at Milky Way Park. While some have questioned the safety of hot air balloon rides in light of the recent fatal crash in central Texas, event organizers and McHenry County-area balloon pilots and crew chiefs are confident in the safety of the aircrafts. (Sarah Nader)

Sarah Nader - snader@shawmedia.com Organizers of the inaugural Harvard Balloon Fest are prepared to host about 10,000 people a day Labor Day weekend at Milky Way Park. While some have questioned the safety of hot air balloon rides in light of the recent fatal crash in central Texas, event organizers and McHenry County-area balloon pilots and crew chiefs are confident in the safety of the aircrafts. (Sarah Nader)

Sarah Nader - snader@shawmedia.com Westley Pelletier, 7, of Algonquin rolls around upside-down while playing in a body ball Sept. 2, 2016, at Friday's Harvard Balloon Festival. The balloon launch was canceled because of wind, but tethered balloon rides and a night balloon glow took place. The festival continues Saturday. (Sarah Nader)

Sarah Nader - snader@shawmedia.com People wait for a hot air balloon launch Friday, Sept. 2, 2016, at Harvard Balloon Festival. The balloon launch was canceled because of wind, but tethered balloon rides and a night balloon glow took place. The festival continues Saturday. (Sarah Nader)

Sarah Nader - snader@shawmedia.com Noah Rogge, 8, of Lake in the Hills holds on tight Friday, Sept. 2, 2016, while on a zipline at the Harvard Balloon Festival. The balloon launch was canceled because of wind, but tethered balloon rides and a night balloon glow took place. The festival continues Saturday. (Sarah Nader)

Sarah Nader - snader@shawmedia.com Gordon Schwontkowski of Cary helps set up a hot air balloon Friday, Sept. 2, 2016, with Sedona Sunset Ballooning at the Harvard Balloon Festival. The balloon launch was canceled because of wind, but tethered balloon rides and a night balloon glow took place. The festival continues Saturday. (Sarah Nader)