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Date: 11/17/2023
SPRINGFIELD — For the second year, the Parade of the Big Balloons will not promenade down Main Street, due to the shortage of helium.
The parade, hosted by the Spirit of Springfield since 1991, was postponed from its November 2022 date and has once again been canceled.
The parade has been a longstanding tradition in the city, showcasing a 75-foot inflatable Cat in the Hat, among other inflatables, bands and Santa.
Nearly 70,000 people would gather on the morning after Thanksgiving to watch the parade, according to the Spirit of Springfield, followed by a holiday open house with children’s activities and performances at Tower Square.
While she declined to comment his year when contacted, in a December 2022 interview with Reminder Publishing, Spirit of Springfield President Judy Matt said her organization was considering how to bring the Parade of the Big Balloons back in 2023, minus the balloons.
Due to the scarcity of helium, Matt said the cost for each of the nine balloons scheduled for the 2022 parade would have been $45,000 per balloon.
What the Spirit of Springfield has gone through is reflected in parades across the country, she added.
According to Matt, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade can continue its tradition because the company has a helium storage system that pumps the gas out of the balloons and into tanks allowing them to reuse much of the gas, which is beyond the financial capacity of the Spirit of Springfield.
Alternatives such as cold air inflatables — which are costly — or using hydrogen — which is flammable — was something Matt said she would not consider.
Although Matt mentioned the idea of hosting the 2023 parade on a different day with different features such as lighting displays, nothing has been confirmed for this year or the years to come.
Despite the postponement of this popular event, the Spirit of Springfield does have some upcoming holiday events it is hosting. For instance, Bright Nights at Forest Park opened Nov. 22 and will run through Jan. 1, 2024.
During Bright Nights, there are various events going on inside of the park including Supper with Santa, horse-drawn wagon and carriage rides, choral concerts and Military and Emergency First Responders Night.
For additional information on the Spirit of Springfield and its events, visit spiritofspringfield.org.