30 Years of Guinness World Records
In 1986, the widely popular Guinness World Records was set to celebrate its 30th anniversary. Governments, cities, and people around the world were eager to etch their names into history books, and the city of Cleveland began theorizing ideas to make this a reality.
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After lengthy consideration, the city partnered with the United Way program, which aimed to raise funds to improve social justice. As the group relied heavily on donations, Cleveland city officials decided to organize a fundraiser that would lead to chaos throughout the city.
The Largest Release of Balloons Ever
Their plan to reserve a spot in the Guinness record books was to hold the largest balloon-realizing event the world has ever seen, dubbed the Balloonfest.
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Disney held the current record; however, the event’s organizers believed they could beat the animation company’s record and claim a spot in the record books. To help with the task, they employed Balloon Art by Tred, a Los Angeles-based company known for its balloon art.
1.5 Million Balloons Gathered For the Event
In total, an estimated 1.5 balloons were gathered for the event. While it was no easy task, over 2 million residents from the city had volunteered to help blow up the balloons
They were later stored under an enormous net, and organizers patiently awaited the moment they’d be launched into the sky as part of one of the most outlandish events to ever take place in the US.
The Day of the Event
On September 27, 1986, over 100,000 people from the city and surrounding regions gathered in downtown Cleveland at the Public Square for the memorable charitable event, according to Fox News.
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Those who waited patiently for the balloons to be released couldn’t help but notice the poor weather that morning. The wind ripped through the city, and a storm was imminent. While the organizers considered postponing the event, eventually, it went ahead as scheduled.
Helium Balloons
The balloons were filled with helium, which typically allowed them to rise into the sky until all of the helium escaped. Then, the balloon was expected to simply return to the ground. However, on that fateful day, this assumption was wrong.
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After several more weather warnings, officials apparently decided to proceed with the event, and 1.5 million balloons were released into the sky over Cleveland.
Balloons Cover the Sky in Cleveland
As the next was pulled back, a rush of colorful balloons soared into the air. According to those who witnessed the event, the balloons looked like a shower of confetti. The crowds cheered and celebrated the event, knowing this would put their city in the Guinness World Records book.
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However, it wasn’t long before problems began to arise. Due to the weather, thousands of balloons were pushed downwards, almost forcing a police helicopter to lose control. Fortunately, they managed to maneuver away from the balloon cloud. However, this was just the first of the problems.
Balloons Begin to Litter the Wider City
The balloons began to return to the ground, but they didn’t drop solely in the city center. They littered rivers, lakes, and farms, landing all over Canada and Lake Erie.
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This sparked a catastrophe for the wildlife living in the surrounding regions, one that posed a serious choking hazard to the animals. Not to mention the level of pollution that comes with one million balloons landing in nature.
Fox News Reporter Calls Event Chaotic
Speaking on the release of the balloons, Fox 8’s news reporter, Neil Zurcher, who was there to witness the event, explained the carnage that ensued following the release, “It was like almost a volcano when it went off,” he said.
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He continued, “Just about everything in the world that could go wrong went wrong that weekend.”
Drivers Placed at Risk
The balloons began covering roads and highways, making them hazardous to anyone driving in and around the city. Due to the number of balloons littering the roads, many drivers ended up in accidents.
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“We drove down the Shoreway, and it was like a multi-colored river down the road. Motorists were running into each other, running into fences,” Zurcher said.
Airport Forced to Close
However, things were even worse at the nearby airport. “Then Burke Lakefront Airport was even more of a mess; the runway was covered with balloons,” said Zurcher.
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The airport was forced to declare an emergency and shut down until the runways could be cleared, which took several hours. Flights were delayed or canceled, and those who were in a rush had to ultimately switch to another airport.
The Event Should Have Been Cancelled
An unfortunate consequence of the event may have led to the death of two fishermen who had gone missing. As balloons littered the lake, helicopters had an extremely difficult time searching for the men. Sadly, two days later, they washed up ashore.
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“After looking back at the weather conditions that were present leading up to the balloon launch, there was no way they should have launched those balloons. The front which came in was right out of the north and had a history of producing severe weather,” said FOX 8 Meteorologist Scott Sabol.