Two nonprofits will be splitting the nearly $6,000 in proceeds brought in from this year’s Mancos Valley Balloon Fest & Street Fair.
This year’s beneficiaries are Medicine Horse Center and Operation Second Chance.
Festival coordinator Bobbi Black confirmed that attendance and funds raised were actually higher than the 2014 festival and fair.
“It’s a significant jump, I don’t think we’ve ever been able to give this amount of money,” said Black. “It was a huge success.”
The Pilots and Heroes BBQ dinner event, held on the lawn at the Bauer House, was another aspect of the weekend festivities that saw an uptick in ticket sales and proceeds from last year, despite the expense it takes to put on, Black said.
“The tent (at the Pilots and Heroes dinner) was one of the best venues we’ve ever done,” she said.
This year also saw greater coordination between the Mancos Valley Chamber of Commerce, the Mancos Arts Council, the Mancos Visitors Center and the Balloon Fest committee, something she hopes to see to continue for future festivals.
“I’m very happy with the results and thrilled that I had such a great committee, thrilled with the sponsors, donors, and volunteers. It was a wonderful experience and I’m looking forward to next year, and looking forward to working with that entire committee again,” said Black.
