The Steering Committee of the 35th Annual Centralia Balloon Fest held its final meeting of the year Tuesday evening in the conference room of the Centralia Chamber of Commerce.

 Led by Balloon Fest chair, Rob Jackson, along with 1st chair, Galen Mahle, and 2nd vice chair, Kayla Lambert; the meeting featured the final reports from each sub-committee and discussions on park protocol from chamber director, Marcus Holland.

 As of Tuesday’s meeting, a reported 22 food vendors, 110 craft vendors, and 40 balloon pilots were confirmed for Balloon Fest weekend.

 Each committee member was gifted with a Balloon Fest swag bag, courtesy of the chamber of commerce, for their dedicated volunteer service.

 “Thank you for everything you’ve done so far and everything you’re going to do,” Mahle told the committee near the meeting’s close. “It’s great to have meetings, but all of the hard work is really with you, and we know you are going to make [the event] great.”

 $5 wristbands for weekend access to the Balloon Fest are currently available online at www.centraliachamber.com and can be purchased in-person at several chamber member banks and retails in the community.

 

 The members of the 2024 Balloon Fest Steering Committee are:

 

Executive Committee

Rob Jackson, Chair

Galen Mahle, 1st Vice Chair

Kala Lambert, 2nd Vice Chair

 

Car Show – Sponsored by Weaver Tree Service

Jamie Arenz

Michele Kirchner

 

Chamber Store/Merchandise

Tim Davis

 

Children’s Games – Sponsored by Industrial Mechanical Contractors

Gretchen Douglas

Ellie McClelland

 

Children’s Cardboard Boat Races – Sponsored by Salem Travel

Ethan Hawkins

Gregory Jones

 

Craft Fair

Pam Logullo

David Knipping

Megan Chillson

Terri Dobbs

 

Entertainment – Sponsored by Bayer Crop Science and Tequila Mexican Restaurant

Neil Miller

Israel Fontanez

 

First Aid – Sponsored by SSM Health St. Mary’s

Susan Robbins

Tammy Donoho

 

Food/Ice

Ashley Campbell

Josh Day

Becca Deomes

Cary Day

 

Financial

Elizabeth Boozer

Misty Meyer

 

Grounds/Maintenance

Greg Schwartz

Brandon Beaver

Doug Lambert

Dana Lambert

 

Marketing

Jamie Resch

Nikki Holland

 

Park Announcers

Jason Cass

Kyle Blanchard

 

Parking

Lucas Parke

Scott McCoy

 

Pilot Liaisons

Brad Haege

Patty Williams

 

Pilot Registration

Stephanie Sachtleben

Leslie Beard

 

Pilot / Sponsor Breakfast and Lift Off Party

Jennifer Castellari

Karisa Neudecker

 

Security

Sharon Shwartz

Alan Betters

 

Signs / Banners

Anthony Harting

Justin Gyrkos

 

Shuttle Carts

Anna Lange

Mauricio Flores

 

Site Electrician – Sponsored by EFI Solutions

James Hill

 

Site Superintendent – Centralia Foundation Park

David Sachtleben

 

Tethered Balloon Rides – Sponsored by Tim Hudspeth Marion County State’s Attorney

Louie Kalert

Becky Castellari

 

Traffic and Transportation

JJ DeMattei

 

Volunteers

Tracy Francois

Laci Koester

Hannah Hotze

Lilly Francois

 

Chamber of Commerce

Marcus Holland, Executive Director

Matthew Packman, Assistant Director

Jamie Resch, Marketing Coordinator

Rylie Clegg, Intern

Cooper Dodson, Intern

Sasha Githens, Intern

Meredith May, Intern

Allison Trumbo, Intern