SPECIAL BALLOON EVENT RATE - CALL FOR HOTEL RESERVATIONS:

Goulding's Lodge : 435-727-3231

Hampton Inn (Kayenta, Az) : 928-697-3170........ Special Rate Code = Balloon Event C-223

the View Hotel : 435-727-5555

Print Schedule

2/24/12 Friday - Youth Day

6:30am .................................. Free Shuttles Begin at Park Visitor Center to launch areas .........................
7:00 am – 9:30am                  Morning Launch                           Location: Rain God Mesa Area & near Mittens

9:30am .................................. Free Shuttles depart from Kayenta, Az - Bashas parking lot .........................
7:00 am – 9:30am     Morning Launch                              Location: Rain God Mesa Area & near Mittens
9:00 am               Fun Walk Registrations, Walk begins at 10:00am, starts at junction HWY163
9:30 am               Free Shuttle leaves Kayenta, Az., Bashas Parking Lot, destination to Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park
10:00 am-5:00pm                  Youth Activities/Entertainment                                     Location: Event Tent near Visitor Center                       

• Facepainting – Jordon Billsie
• Winter Storytelling – Dorothy Bigman & Goldern Arrow Club
• Coloring Stations – NPS Canyon de Chelly
• Pony Bead Art -  Lisa Richards
• Scavenger Hunt – NPRD Staff
• Coyote & Lizard Movies – NPRD Staff & ARTSCO
• Fun Walk – Marlene Valentine (Special Diabetes)
• Weaving Demonstrations inside Hogan – Larry Holiday
• Volleyball Tournament – MVHS Gym
• Seed Ball Express – Carole Palmer

10:00 am                                     Davis Boys
10:30 am                                    Todi Neesh Zhee Singers
11:00 am                                     Welcome Address from Navajo Nation President, Ben Shelly
                                                      Recognition of Dignitaries, Royalty and Sponsors
11:30 am                                    Golden Arrow Club (MVHS Traditional Singers)
12:00 pm                                    Navajo Nation Vice President, Rex Lee Jim
12:30 pm                                    Crystalyne Curley, Miss Navajo 2011-12
1:00 pm                                    YAIVA (Hip Hop Artist)
1:30 pm                                    Gabriel Yaiva & Kelvin Long (Motivational Speakers)
2:00 pm                                    Davis Boys
2:30 pm                                     Todi Neesh Zhee Singers
3:00 pm                                    Rex Harvey (Motivational Speaker)
3:30 pm                                     Golden Arrow Club (MVHS Traditional Singers)
4:00 pm                                    YAIVA (Hip Hop Artist)
4:30 pm                                    Gabriel Yaiva & Kelvin Long (Motivational Speakers)
4:30 pm                                     Shuttle departs back to Kayenta, Az.
                                                     
Informative Booths on site

• Sheep is Life – Tahnibaa Naataanii
• Grand Canyon Trust – Native American Volunteer Program for Youth
• Canyon de Chelly NPS – Nora McKerry
• Kayenta Township

6:00 pm to 8:00pm                  LATIGO (Country Band)                                    Location: Welcome Center
6:45 PM to 8:00 PM                  Balloon Night Glow                                    Location: Welcome Center Parking Lot
                                                                                                                                     

 Saturday 2/25/12
6:30am .................................. Free Shuttles Begin at Park Visitor Center to launch areas .........................
7:00 am – 9:30am                  Morning Launch                                    Location: Rain God Mesa Area & near Mittens
10:00 am-5:00pm                  Entertainment                                                       Location: Event Tent near Visitor Center

10:00 am                                     Todi Neesh Zhee Singers
10:30 am                                    Davis Boys
11:00 am                                     Radmilla Cody
11:30 am                                    Golden Arrow Club (MVHS Traditional Singers)
12:00 pm                                    Navajo Nation Vice President, Rex Lee Jim and Recognition of Dignitaries, Royalty and Sponsors
12:30 pm                                    Joe Tohonnie Jr. & Apache Crowndancers
1:00 pm                                    Davis Boys
1:30 pm                                    Radmilla Cody
2:00 pm                                    Todi Neesh Zhee Singers
2:30 pm                                     Golden Arrow Club (MVHS Traditional Singers)
3:00 pm                                    Crystalyne Curley, Miss Navajo
3:30 pm                                     group #2
4:00 pm                                    Joe Tohonnie Jr. & Apache Crowndancers
                                   
Volleyball Tournament – MVHS Gym

6:00 pm to 8:00 pm                 LATIGO (Country Band)                          Location: Welcome Center
                                               Fashion Show by Native Stitch                   Location: TBA
6:45 PM to 8:00 PM               Balloon Night Glow                                    Location: Welcome Center Parking Lot

Informative Booths

• Sheep is Life – Tahnibaa Naataanii

• Kayenta Township

Sunday 2/26/12
6:30am .................................. Free Shuttles Begin at Park Visitor Center to launch areas .........................
7:00 am – 9:30am                  Morning Launch                                    Location: Rain God Mesa Area & near Mittens
10:30am                                     Church Services                                                      Location: Event Tent near Visitor Center

Booths
Informative Booths will be on site for community related activities and youth programs.

Transportation
Shuttle Service will be available by Simpson's Trailhandlers Tours and Goulding's Tours for spectators wanting a closer view. The morning launches will be down the Monument Valley scenic road, near Rain God Mesa on Saturday & Sunday morning. Launches will range from the John Ford's Point to Rain God Mesa. Pick up location will be near the Visitor Center starting at 6:30am.

Souvenirs
Will be sold at the Visitor Center

When Attending the Balloon Event

• Dress in layers because the early morning air is chilly, but once the sun rises, it becomes warm.
• Bring a stroller or wagon for young children.
• Bring folding chairs or a blanket to sit on.
• Bring water bottles.
• Food can be purchased at the View Hotel & Restaurant, bringing your own snacks for kids eliminates waiting in long lines at the restaurant.
• Bring a camera with lots of memory. (Commercial Photographers need to obtain a Permit from Navajo Parks & Recreation Department) Download Form
• Bring cash, there is only one ATM machine in the gift shop.
• Shuttles will be available near the Visitor Center starting at 6:30am. Launch sites are near John Ford's Point to Rain God Mesa.

What is the Night Glow Show?

The Night Glow Show spectators get to watch the balloons inflate and see the craft and pilots up close and personal. The balloons do not lift into the air but will remain on the ground as it grows bigger and lighting up to glow. Inside the balloon the hot air makes them to appear like a big and colorful candle. The glowing of each balloon will showcase a radiant luminosity. We will have about 3 - 4 balloons for the Night Glow Show, located near the primitive campground north of the Visitor Center.

Navajo Parks & Recreation Office 928-871-6647 or (435)727-5874 , 5879 , 5870

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INFORMATION: “A World Premier Balloon Event at Monument Valley Contact: Geri Hongeva, Media Representative geri@navajonationparks.org

Navajo Parks & Recreation announces its Hot Air Balloon Event at Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park on February 24-26, 2012. There will be three launches, one on Friday morning, Saturday morning and the other on Sunday morning, also two night glows on Friday & Saturday evening at dusk. There will be various launch sites down the Monument Valley road. Twenty pilots have been invited to this unique World Premier Balloon Event, each pilot have met all expectations needed to fly over the Navajo Tribal Park land. They are all very aware of the cultural sensitivity that surrounds Monument Valley and the fragile enviroment which composes such beautiful landscape.

Hot Air Ballooning has emerged into a spectacular sport and has not dramatically changed since the first flight in 1783 by the Montgolfier brothers in Paris, France. In the scientific arena of studying the weather and atmosphere, hot air balloons have helped scientists study different atmospheres and collecting data. The balloons only fly in near perfect weather conditions with minimal wind. Today, the balloons come in many different shapes and sizes but they all use the propane to fuel their craft and fly in the morning when the wind is most stable. Most people assume that these balloons are very quiet but it is quite the opposite, the burners are very noisy. The hot air balloon pilots have to be very experienced and requires them to achieve: over 35 hours of flight instruction, have a commercial pilot’s license, complete ground school for basic aviation training, pass a written test for hot-air balloons and obtain a flight check issued from the Federal Aviation Administration.

Twent pilots total. The fifteen pilots selected thus far to fly at the World Premier Balloon Event in Monument Valley are: Don Edwards (Albuquerque, NM), Judith Holt (Phoenix, Az), William Lee (Gallup, NM), Glen See (Albuquerque, NM), Donald Stockley (Murray, UT), Jeffery Johnson (Flagstaff, AZ), Dorothy Harrison (Phoenix, AZ), Sally Bartsch (New River, AZ), Sally Heinrich (Phoenix, AZ), Gary Woods (Ridgeway, CO), Kent Barnes (Murray, UT), Doug Lenberg (Farmington, NM), Phil Cambell (Bayfield, CO), Phred McAllaster (Santa Fe, NM) and Bryan Hill (Page, AZ). These pilots will bring the excitement of ballooning to Navajo country and the Navajo people. This a free public event hosted by Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, which will include a variety of entertainment. Local artists will by on site displaying their work of art and other informative booths for spectators to view. Balloon events are a very social and casual event, bring your family and friends for free entertainment. For more information call 928-871-6647 or go to www.navajonationparks.org and select Balloon Event.

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