SARC Holds 4th Annual ‘Rising Above It’ Hot Air Balloon Family Fun Day on Sept. 21

From SARC:

SARC’s 4th Annual Rising Above It Hot Air Balloon Family Fun Day takes place rain or shine Saturday, September 21, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Harford County Equestrian Center, 608 North Tollgate Road in Bel Air.

Family Fun Day is a fundraiser for SARC, a Harford County nonprofit in its 35th year, that provides hope and resources to victims of domestic violence, sexual violence, child abuse and stalking.

The day features a mix of activities for children as well as adults including live entertainment stages, horse rides for kids on Clydesdales (additional fee), a scavenger hunt, moonbounces, face painting, games, goat feeding (additional fee) and more. A variety of vendors will be on site for shopping and dining.

A hot-air balloon “hare and hound race,” coordinated by Light Flight Hot Air Balloons, Inc., is scheduled to lift off at 5:30 p.m. (weather permitting). Balloon pilots are scheduled to be on hand with their balloon baskets at 4 p.m. (again, weather permitting) to discuss hot air ballooning. In addition, the ReMax hot air balloon will be on site at 2 p.m. Please note that hot air balloon rides are not available at Family Fun Day.

Other entertainment and activities include the Oriole Bird (from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.), Move It! with Uncle Pete, Heckles Hoops, Hoppin Hawks, Kinetic Youth Academy, Chung Martial Arts, Zumba, SchumBug, The Skullduggery Crew, Anthony’s Park, GIRLEEgurlz, balloon artists and more. A magician will be at the gate welcoming guests in the morning and performing a show at 12:30 p.m.

Games include duck pond, down the clown, critters in the trash can, inflatable T-ball, moon toss, a bubble machine and more.

A special performance by Heckles Hoops takes place from noon to 5 p.m. Andreas “Spilly” Spiliadis became the world record holder for the most number of rotations in one minute with a giant 11.5-foot diameter hula hoop. He accomplished this feat in Italy where he defeated West Coast hula hoop champion Dizzy Hips.

An anniversary tent will be on hand to highlight the 35-year history of SARC. On display will be historical photographs and articles plus displays on the work SARC does and copies of a book written specifically for the 35th anniversary.

Also part of the day will be a “Mommy Market,” offering gently used children’s clothing, toys and supplies for sale. Anyone interested in participating in the Mommy Market should sign up in advance at www.sarc-maryland.org.

A shopping area will include beauty and makeup products, jewelry, home goods, travel opportunities and more.

Mascots from area business will also be on hand. They include “Lucky the Dog” from Aaron’s, “Kona the Penguin” from Kona Ice, “Tales” from Harford County Public Library, the Dalmatian mascot from Joppa-Magnolia Fire Department and “Joe the Monkey” from Point Breeze Credit Union. Miss Fire Prevention of Harford County will also be on hand.

Several community nonprofits will be part of Family Fun Day including Anita C. Leight Estuary Center, The ARC Northern Chesapeake Region, Harford Community College, Harford County Fire Prevention’s Safety House, Harford County Public Library’s Rolling Reader, Harford Family House, Humane Society of Harford County and Upper Chesapeake Health’s HealthLink, which will provide blood pressure screenings.

Food concessions include Cows on the Lose, Food by Fire, Fountain Green Concessions, JR’s Pit Beef, Kona Ice, McShane’s, Sweet As You Confections and WOLO. Among the food offerings will be pit beef, ham and turkey; hamburgers, hot dogs and sausage with onions and peppers; wraps that include chicken Caesar, shrimp salad and turkey; a kids menu with peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and turkey and cheese; plus fair foods such as funnel cakes, soft pretzels, cotton candy, fresh-squeezed lemonade and sweet tea plus snow cones, decorate-your-own cupcakes, soft-serve ice cream and milkshakes.

WAMD (970 AM) will broadcast live from the event throughout the day.

Event sponsors include Aaron’s, Harford Mutual Insurance, Jones Junction, Saxon’s Diamond Centers, APGFCU, Gemcraft Homes, Harford’s Heart Magazine, Harford Style, Innovative Insurance Solutions, Light Flight Hot Air Balloons, Inc., Mason-Dixon ARRIVE, MediaWise, Inc., WAMD, Wegman’s, Laurel Bush Family Dentistry, The Aegis, Bobby’s Portable Restrooms, Chesapeake Professional Women’s Network, County Movers, Decisive Data Systems, Flowers by Lucy, Harford Community College, HR Solutions, Kathy Casey Non-Profit Consulting, Macy’s, Schneider Electric, Southern States Cooperative, Triplemilled Art & Design, “What’s Your Story?,” Ciampaglio Potter Associates, Clean Cuts, Hart to Heart Transportation, 84 Lumber, C&C Golf Carts, L&L Company, SRC, Window World of Harford, Advanced Eye Care, Chesapeake Title Company, LLC, Cohn Reznick, Free State Numismatics, Garceau Realty, Harford Bank, Lynch Construction, Mid Atlantic Title, Morgan Stanley, PNC, Wilkins, Little and Matthews, LLP, Wingate by Wyndham, Extreme Family Entertainment, Frito Lay, Legallogs.com, REICO, Advance Business Systems, Christine Sullivan, Janine Seadler, Jen Snyder, Leo Heppner, Northeastern Supply and NBRS.

In 2012, approximately 3,700 people attended the event.

Tickets for Family Fun Day cost $5 per person (children 5 and under are free) and may be purchased in advance online at www.sarc-maryland.org. Tickets may also be purchased at the gate. Pets are not permitted at Family Fun Day.

Anyone interested in volunteering at the event may sign up in advance by visiting SARC’s web site, www.sarc-maryland.org.

For more information about Family Fun Day or SARC, visit www.sarc-maryland.org or call 410-836-8431.