Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
FESTIVAL
air balloons, he’s passionate about the sport. The polo match begins at 6 p.m. on Saturday.
“The horses are racing at 35 miles per hour,” he said. “It’s a great time to be able to see the balloons and expose more people to the sport of polo.”
Robert Kiger, a polo player from Elegante Polo in Wellington, will be playing over theweekend.
“It’s like hockey on horseback,” he said. “It’s a great teameventandpolo is agreat excuse for a party.”
BothKigerandRussell are hoping for a better show than last year, when the rain and wind eliminated any chances of getting the balloons off the ground.
“The wind conditions for this weekend look wonderful,” Russell said. “The balloon goeswherever the wind goes.”
Attendees can pay $5 for tether rides to soar sevenstoriesabove the crowd, starting at 7 p.m. on Saturday. Or they can also take balloon rides, without the rope, for $200.
On Saturday night there will be a special Balloon Glow show, where all the balloons will light up. “It’ll be like walking through fireflies,” Russell said.
All proceeds from the event go toward the Semper Fi fund to support wounded sailors andMarines.
“We’re happy to have anyone come out to get a good show and support a good cause,” said Jonathan Clark of the Semper Fi Fund. “You’d be surprised how much it costs post-deployment. It’s not as simple as putting soldiers in a wheelchair or slapping on a prosthetic.”
Last year the organization raised $12,000 from the event to help the financial, mental and physical struggles of disabledMarines and sailors.