BACKGROUND:
In 2023, the Cathedral City International Hot Air Balloon Festival will celebrate its 9 th Anniversary bringing a kaleidoscope of color, sound, art, and enjoyment as the hot air balloons launch and fill the Coachella Valley sky with their majestic presence. It is an opportunity for families to cherish shared memories that will last a lifetime as they experience the beauty of these airships sailing above our desert oasis. The festival welcomes balloon pilots and their crew from across the United States and around the world.
It has enjoyed balloons coming from England, Canada, and Thailand.
The festival is owned by the City of Cathedral City and managed and produced by Steve and Cindy Wilkinson of Fantasy Balloon Flights, a Palm Desert tourism company. Besides featuring an average of 30 hot air balloons, the festival also includes the best food truck cuisine in Southern California; Balloon Glow and Music at our host hotel, Westin Mission Hills Golf Resort and Spa (Rancho Mirage), and in Downtown Cathedral City; LIVE music at the Cathedral City Community Amphitheater and at Agua Caliente Casino – Cathedral City; morning balloon launches in Cathedral City and Rancho Mirage; Classic Car Show; Art Show; Kid Zone; and Special Shapes Sunday at Big League Dreams Sports Park in Cathedral City.
DISCUSSION:
The City of Cathedral City would like to utilize the $29,926 GPS Tourism Grant to fund:
•Implement the international direction of the festival this year with special shape balloons and teams from the Netherlands, Thailand, Canada, France, the United Kingdom, and the US. Starting in 2023, the event will now be named the Cathedral City International Hot Air Balloon Festival.
•Add more security and amenities to the Saturday evening Balloon Glow taking place on the Festival Lawn, Community Amphitheater and Agua Caliente Casinos Cathedral City lot.
•An additional Special Shape Balloon Glow at Agua Caliente Casinos Cathedral City enclosed with food and souvenir vendors, a stage, DJ announcements and music during the Balloon Glow and Drone Show Saturday evening.
•Coachella type projection art images projected on the unique Cathedral City downtown buildings.
•More activities and acts on Saturday geared toward children and families.
In 2022, the City of Cathedral City was able to utilize the GPS Tourism Grant to fund the expansion of special shape hot air balloons coming to the festival which will help elevate the festival to new heights. These proposed enhancements are designed to do the same in 2023.
The focus of this festival is to provide a fun, safe and hospitable weekend of flying in our beautiful valley while enjoying the many amenities of our winter resort area and Cathedral City's small-town charm.
The festival has grown over its short time span from attracting several thousand attendees locally from its inception in 2015 to bringing in over 25,000 attendees regionally. We believe these enhancements have the potential to increase attendance by at least 25%.
Staff will also take time during the presentation to review the proposed design of the City of Cathedral City’s balloon, which was authorized by the City Council. The balloon will debut at the 9 th Annual Cathedral City International Hot Air Balloon Festival. The partnership between Fantasy Balloon Flights and Visit Greater Palm Springs (VGPS) will allow the balloon to travel to multiple festivals across the country, with VGPS picking up the entry fees to each festival and Fantasy Balloon Flights maintaining the operation of the Cathedral City/VGPS balloon.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The festival has grown over its short time span from attracting several thousand attendees locally from its inception in 2015 to bringing in over 25,000 attendees regionally, and more importantly, more than 50% of the attendees from outside of the Coachella Valley. We believe the enhancements made possible by the $29,926 GPS Tourism Grant have the potential to increase attendance by at least 25%, which will boost sales tax revenue and food traffic for local businesses in Downtown Cathedral City.
FIVE-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN:
Action F-6: Promote additional community events and celebrations.