Balloon festival to go on despite rising fuel costs

Despite rising fuel prices, the show will go on next month at the Metro NY Balloon & Music Festival at Broohaven Calabro Airport in Shirley.

Newton Shows, an East Northport company, will provide the amusement rides, all of which are powered by diesel fuel. A year ago, Mike Newton, who co-owns the company, said he paid close to $3 a gallon for diesel. This year, local prices have climbed to more than $5 a gallon.

"It did throw us off, but the show must go," Newton said. "You almost can't even look at it. You hope that you have a good season and that revenues keep up with expenses."

Last year more than 120,000 people attended the show, which this year runs Aug. 8-10. Besides amusement rides, the festival - which real estate company Re/Max of New York Inc. is producing - features hot air balloons, monster-truck shows and live entertainment.
Newton Shows provides the amusements for the midway, which will feature more than 30 rides and games. Three generators will provide the juice for that entertainment, which includes Pharaoh's Fury, a giant swinging boat, and Super Shot Drop Tower, a ride with a 90-foot descent, Newton said. Each generator uses about 18 to 22 gallons of diesel an hour.

Because of the spike in fuel prices, Newton raised the pay-one-price ticket to $30, from $25 last year. (The festival's general admission price remains at $20 prepurchase and $25 at the gate.)

Newton said he may try to conserve fuel by not running all of the carnival lights during the day. Other than that he is hoping a bigger turnout will help offset his higher fuel bills.

"You just try to work with a great sponsor like the Balloon Fest and our other sponsors to draw people to keep revenues healthy enough to overcome the additional expense," he said.

And he is expecting a higher turnout because of - guess what? - higher fuel prices.

"We're expecting more people because they can stay close to home and enjoy a fully loaded, family friendly and affordable event," Newton said.