Two days of fun centered on hot air balloons, kites, carnival rides and other endeavors take place today and Sunday from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Ripon’s Mistlin Sports Park.
The 12th annual Hot Air Balloon and Kite Festival being staged by the Ripon Chamber of Commerce Foundation starts off the same both days. Access to the event is free although there is a $5 parking charge at the River Road venue off Jack Tone Road.
Each day there is a:
upancake breakfast from 6 a.m. to noon with the cost being $10 for adults and $7 for kids.
uballoon inflation at 6:30 a.m.
uprayer and national anthem at 7 a.m.
uballoon launches at 7:30 a.m. along with tethered balloon rides for $10 per person.
ucarnival rides and vendors from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
utoy giveaway starting at 8 a.m.
Today’s schedule includes:
ufun run at 7:30 a.m.
uRavioli Clown show from 8 to 11:30 a.m.
utoddler dash at 9 a.m.
uDesert Wind dancers on main stage at 9 a.m.
uSky Dive California jump at 9:30 a.m.
uthe Air George helicopter arrives at 10 a.m.
utae kwon do on the main stage at 10 a.m.
uthe kite candy drop at 10:30 a.m.
ukite show begins at 10:30 a.m.
uPatty Davis Band on main stage at 10:30 a.m.
uMiss Sparkles Delight from 1:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
uValley Fire band on main stage at noon.
ukite candy drop at 12:30 p.m.
ufestival closes at 3 p.m.
Sunday’s schedule includes:
uMiss Sparkles Delight from 8 to 11:30 a.m.
uPatty Davis Band on main stage at 9:30 a.m.
uSky Dive California jump at 9:30 a.m.
uthe kite candy drop at 10:30 a.m.
ukite show begins at 10:30 a.m.
uRavioli Clown show at 11:30 a.m.
uSuburban Paradise Band on main stage at noon.
ukite candy drop at 12:30 p.m.
ufestival closes at 3 p.m.
Friday’s Media Day saw some 10 hot air balloons lift off quietly between 7 and 8 a.m. in something of a dress rehearsal for this weekend festival that is expected to draw thousands of people to Mistlin Sports Park at Jack Tone and River roads near Highway 99.
 There were 80 uniformed members of the Ripon High JROTC assigned to the media event Friday,  helping fill the envelopes of the balloons with hot air and holding the tie-down ropes to keep the baskets on the ground as the pilots were ready to flame them upward.
Cheers Aerial Media owner and Chief Pilot David Wakefield introduced a new version of hot air balloons that was shaped like the Good Year Blimp with a cockpit attached to its mid-section complete with a large fan mounted behind its cockpit – and a rudder to change its direction. The cockpit held four people and one had the thrill of her life.  Samantha Fox could be seen in the co-pilot’s seat after returning to Mistlin Sports Park flying by the large water tower, landing on the grassy field.
The airship was controlled by ropes that connected to a large rudder at the rear of the craft and hovered over Highway 99 for nearly half an hour for the benefit of the commute traffic on their way to work Friday morning.
Manteca-Ripon Mt. Mike Pizza restaurant owners  Jeff and Tevani Liotard were among those climbing into the balloon baskets. They landed near Kansas Avenue and Highway 99.  The Liotards are owners of the Mountain Mike’s Pizza Restaurant on West Main Street in Ripon.  He — along with fellow Manteca Rotarians — is in charge of the breakfast both today and Sunday.
The JROTC cadets will return on Sunday to do the parking lot duty for people coming in to see the balloons lift off again in the early morning.

To contact Glenn Kahl, email gkahl@mantecabulletin.com.