Burnet all aglow with goblins and balloons

The event will have six balloons filled up and tethered to the ground so children can go from gondola to gondola trick or treating. Along with the balloons, there will be a costume contest, stilt walkers and face painters. The event starts at 6 p.m. and culminates with a showing of ‘The Spiderwick Chronicles.’ Courtesy photo

BURNET —  Six hot air balloons will light the night sky Saturday at The Great Goblin Glow at the Galloway-Hammond Recreation Center.

The center is located at 1601 S. Water St, which is also U.S. 281.

“We did something like this when I was in Lakeway, and I thought it would be something fun here in Burnet,” said Burnet Parks and Recreation Department Director Winston McGinnis.

The Great Goblin Glow starts at 6 p.m. in the ball fields behind the center. Members of the Central Texas Ballooning Association will begin inflating their crafts around 6:45 p.m.

“Once they’re filled, the balloons will be tethered to the ground so kids can come around to each basket and go trick or treating,” said CTBA member Sam Edwards. “I think several of the members will be dressed up as well.”

McGinnis said the balloons lighting up at night will make an incredible sight.

“People need to bring their cameras because it will make for great pictures,” he said.

Along with the balloons, many other fun events are featured, McGinnis said.

“We’re going to have stilt walkers and several face painters,” he said. 

Children in costume will be entered in a contest. McGinnis said judges will walk among the crowd looking at the costumes before deciding on the cutest, scariest and most original.

“The contest is for the kids, but certainly if parents want to dress up they can,” he said. “This is a family-oriented event.”

There will also be live music from the band Red, White and Blue.

“They’re a rockabilly blues band,” McGinnis said.

Visitors can watch the crews inflate and prepare the balloons.

“We’re going to start inflating at about 6:45 p.m.,” Edwards said. “And people are invited to come watch us set up.”

Edwards said the crews use small, gas-powered engines to fill the balloons with air. Once the balloons are inflated to a certain level, the crew starts heating the air to make them rise.

“When they’re all filled and standing up, it will look like six lights sitting out there,” Edwards said. “But they’ll be big lights.”

The balloons will stay lit up until about 8:30 p.m., McGinnis said.

“After that we’re going to show the movie ‘The Spiderwick Chronicles,’” he said. “It is a PG movie so parents should consider that if they’re going to let their kids watch it.”

The movie is based on the fantasy series of children’s books written by Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi.

McGinnis recommended parents bring a flashlight. Even with the balloons lit up, it will still be dark out. 

“Also if the kids are going to trick or treat, they should bring a bag with them,” he said.

Admission for the event is $4 for adults and $2 for children 14 and under. For more information, call (512) 756-6180.

“It should be a fun night,” McGinnis said.

daniel@thepicayune.com