12.6M views · Jun 12, 2018 · 6:35 · 0 HN recommenders · 3 mentions · discussed 2018–2021
A short Atlantic documentary on Cleveland's 1986 Balloonfest, when 1.5 million balloons were released at once and the attempt went badly wrong.
Why Hacker News points people here: Cited as a shorthand for a spectacularly misguided publicity stunt, or as a classic embarrassing Cleveland episode.
“The two best things denigrating Cleveland: Balloonfest”
Balloonfest as a classic embarrassing Cleveland episode
The two best things denigrating Cleveland: Balloonfest ( this video ) & your already mentioned Mike Polk Jr's tourism videos ( this video & link ). If you can get past the dreary gray skies for 8 months of the year, Cleveland is cheap (even the nicer suburbs like Solon or Aurora) and has easy access to scenic western PA & upstate NY.
“Pretty much as dumb as the Cleveland Balloon event[0].”
Welp. Pretty much as dumb as the Cleveland Balloon event[0]. I think it is funny as hell, but incredibly dumb, yes. "Cleveland, WE DID IT! YEEEAH". [0] this video
“I guess the airspace will look somewhat like the Cleveland Balloonfest '86...”
You will need a lot of pricey Helium-filled airships to replace an average container ship. I guess the airspace will look somewhat like the Cleveland Balloonfest '86... this video link
