Balloonfest '86

Balloonfest '86
DateSeptember 27, 1986; 37 years ago (1986-09-27)
TimeAround 1:50 PM EDT
LocationPublic Square, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
Coordinates41°29′59″N 81°41′38″W / 41.49972°N 81.69389°W / 41.49972; -81.69389
Organized byUnited Way of Cleveland
Outcome
  • World record for simultaneous release of balloons[1]
Non-fatal injuriesMultiple horses
Property damageMultiple traffic collisions
Litigation2 lawsuits

Balloonfest '86 was an event in Cleveland, Ohio, United States, held on September 27, 1986, in which the local chapter of United Way set a world record by releasing almost 1.5 million balloons.[2]

The event was intended to be a harmless fundraising publicity stunt. However, the released balloons drifted back over the city and Lake Erie and landed in the surrounding area, causing problems for traffic and a nearby airport. The event also interfered with a United States Coast Guard search for two boaters who were later found drowned.[1] In consequence, the organizers faced lawsuits seeking millions of dollars in damages,[1] and cost overruns put the event at a net loss.[3]

  1. ^ a b c Kroll, John (August 15, 2011). "Balloonfest 1986, the spectacle that became a debacle: Cleveland Remembers (video)". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved March 15, 2014.
  2. ^ Bellamy, Gail Ghetia (2013). Cleveland Summertime Memories: A Warm Look Back. Gray & Company. p. 65. ISBN 1938441508.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference michael was invoked but never defined (see the help page).