The Disaster that was Balloon Fest ’86 | Marks Unexplained World Podcast Extra

2025-09-06

The Disaster that was Balloon Fest '86 | Marks Unexplained World Podcast Extra Balloonfest '86 was a 1986 event in Cleveland, Ohio, United States, in which the local chapter of United Way set a world record by releasing almost 1.5 million balloons. The event took place on September 27, 1986, and was intended to be a harmless fundraising publicity stunt, but the balloons drifted back over the city, Lake Erie, and landed in the surrounding area, causing problems for traffic and a nearby...

The Disaster that was Balloon Fest '86 | Marks Unexplained World Podcast Extra

Balloonfest '86 was a 1986 event in Cleveland, Ohio, United States, in which the local chapter of United Way set a world record by releasing almost 1.5 million balloons.

The event took place on September 27, 1986, and was intended to be a harmless fundraising publicity stunt, but the balloons drifted back over the city, 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. In consequence, the organizers and the city faced lawsuits seeking millions of dollars in damages, and cost overruns that put the event at a net loss

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