'2012 Chinese New Year’ is this year’s theme

This year’s Hudson Hot Air Affair begins this weekend with a new venue -- a countdown event in partnership with the Hudson Area Joint Library and the return of a fun event held for the first time last year at the Village Inn Sports Bar and Grill.

A geocaching workshop starts at 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 14, at the Hudson Area Joint Library, sponsored by Dough Boys Pizza. Experienced geocacher Anne Jilek will be joined by her daughter Jodi Bauer in giving an overview of the real-world, outdoor high tech treasure hunting hobby. If weather cooperates, they plan to do some hands on experience searching for geocaches located in downtown Hudson near the library.

All are welcome to the free informational, how-to workshop but pre-registration is encouraged. Call the library at (715) 386-3101 or stop at the circulation desk to sign up.

“The Hot Air Affair’s geocaching activities are extremely popular,” said HHAA president Evy Nerbonne. “Our committee volunteers Gary Glancy and Chris Wengelski have made Hudson a geocaching destination.”

According to Geocaching.com logs, Hudson is considered a very rich geocaching environment.

“Last year’s addition of nearly 50 new unique, winter-friendly fire hydrant caches really put Hudson on the map,” said Nerbonne. “For folks wanting ‘power caching,’ it’s now easy to join the Geocache Century Club by finding at least 100 caches in one day in the Hudson area.”

Geocaching events will also take place Hot Air Affair weekend with Saturday’s intro workshop giving beginners a chance to get ready for a February outing.

Saturday night, Jan. 14, will see the return of a countdown event fundraiser at the Village Inn Sports Bar and Grill in North Hudson. Back by popular demand, a meat raffle will start at 6 p.m.

“We invite everyone to have fun while raising money to underwrite our annual winter festival,” said HHAA committee member Lori Rayome, WESTconsin Credit Union. She said funds must be raised each year to bring special entertainment and theme activities to Hudson for the festival. This year’s “2012 The Year of the Dragon” theme will feature activities in partnership with the Dragon Festival committee in St. Paul.

Other Hot Air Affair countdown events in January include a children’s coloring affair, Chinese New Year food sampling and entertainment at Family Fresh Market on Jan. 21, candlelight hike and ski at YMCA Camp St. Croix on Jan. 21, Tip Night fundraiser at Pizza Hut WingStreet on Jan. 23, annual kick off at Dick’s Bar and Grill on Jan. 27, Ultimate Martial Arts & Fitness open house on Jan. 28 and the family day activity at The Phipps Center for the Arts on Jan. 29.

The 2011 Hudson Hot Air Affair, presented by WESTconsin Credit Union, will be Feb. 3, 4 and 5. Nearly 40 hot air balloons from throughout the Midwest will converge on Hudson for a weekend of flying, mass ascensions and the popular Moon Glow when the aerostats light up the night from the E.P. Rock elementary school grounds like a “field of Chinese lanterns.”

Other activities include a torchlight parade, fireworks, craft fair and marketplace, smoosh board competitions, kite flying, ice carving, chili cook-off and more family oriented events. For more details on the 2012 Hudson Hot Air Affair, go to www.hudsonhotairaffair.com or visit the event’s Facebook page.

Balloon returns

A familiar balloon in the St. Croix Valley will return to the Hudson Hot Air Affair -- the aerostat for Stillwater Balloons. HHAA pilot coordinator Molly Johnson says the event is all about the balloons -- both in the air and on the ground at the torchlight parade and popular Moon Glow. She says this is the fourth year for Stillwater Balloons to fly as a commercial sponsor in the Hudson event. The local company will participate with owner Steve Jacobs at the helm of 2-Be-Here.

Stillwater Balloons has been in operation since 1976 and has provided more flights than any other company in the Midwest, according to Jacobs. He has been a pilot and worked with Stillwater Balloons for about 20 years. He loves ballooning and shares this love with his wife, Ann, and his 16 children, 11 of which are adopted.

“The kids now help crew for the balloons” Jacobs said. Under Ann’s vision and direction, the family is creating what they hope will be an award winning Chinese New Year float for the Hot Air Affair Torchlight Parade on Feb. 3. According to Jacobs, they fly Cameron Balloons which carry between 8 and 16 passengers depending on the weights of those flying, the weather conditions, and the balloon chosen.

“When the largest of these balloons was purchased, it was the largest commercial balloon and basket in the United States,” said Jacobs. “Since that time, sales and use of these balloons has increased dramatically.”

Anyone interested in volunteering at the 23rd annual Hudson Hot Air Affair should leave a message at (715) 381-2050 or on the event’s Facebook page. Volunteers are needed for hot air balloon chase crews and other event activities.

Tags: lifestyle, events, travel