Skyward Festival

2011 Skyward Festival is scheduled for March 4, 2011.

DOWNTOWN LAKELAND WILL LOOKS ‘SKYWARD’ ON ITS MARCH FIRST FRIDAY

SUN ‘n FUN CAMPUS, LAKELAND, FL. – (JANUARY 7, 2011.) – SUN ‘n FUN and the DOWNTOWN LAKELAND PARTNERSHIP (DLP) will again invite Downtown Lakeland to look “Skyward” during DLP’s March First Friday featuring the 2nd Annual SUN ‘n FUN Skyward Festival on March 4^th.

SUN ‘n FUN will bring hot air balloons, an after-dark aerial pyrotechnic light show, portable sport airplanes & flight simulators plus the US Navy’s Dixieland band, “TGIF” to downtown Lakeland for the 2^nd annual DLP/ SUN ‘n FUN Skyward Festival. The event will provide the Downtown Lakeland community with Aviation as a powerful merchandising theme throughout March in Downtown Lakeland. The evening activities arranged by SUN ‘n FUN will represent a sample of the 2011 annual SUN ‘n FUN International Fly-In & Expo scheduled for March 29-April 3 on and over SUN’n FUN’s Lakeland Linder Regional Airport campus. This year SUN ‘n FUN 2011 will feature the US Navy’s famed Blue Angels jet demonstration team and a week long celebration of the Centennial of Naval Aviation.

Skyward Festival activities at First Friday begin at 6 p.m. with aerial pattern over Munn Park and Lake Mirror by SUN ‘n Fun’s World War II-era Stearman biplane.

Concurrent with the flight of the Stearman will be the preparation and inflating (weather permitting) of two or three tethered hot air balloons on the northwest shore of Lake Mirror, just off the corner of Cedar and Massachusetts.

Assuming calm air, the hot air balloons will offer a colorful addition to the western view of Lake Mirror throughout the evening. The scene will be accentuated at dusk, when a “glow” is created within each balloon when the gas used to inflate the balloon is lit.

The evening’s festivities will be enhanced by the music of the U.S Navy’s TGIF Dixieland band performing on the Munn Park mobile stage. After sunset, First Friday participants will again look “Skyward” for the evening’s aerial finale – a festive night light show by Roger Buis’ pyrotechnic helicopter. Following the inspiring light show, the US Navy’s TGIF band will retake the Munn Park stage to sustain the festival spirit though the remainder of the evening.

In keeping with the tradition of DPL First Fridays, the mid-town length of Kentucky Avenue will be converted into a pedestrian mall. The “skyward festival” theme will be echoed throughout the area. SUN ‘n FUN will add exhibits for its International Fly-In & Expo, offering advance ticket & event t-shirt sales and free poster, plus an exhibit by the Florida Air Museum at Sun ‘n Fun will include a kid’s activity table and information pertaining to the Museum’s “Destination Aviation” summer camp program and rides in its mobile flight simulator. Representatives from the Central Florida Aerospace Academy (CFAA), which is located on the SUN ‘n FUN campus, will also be available to answer questions about the Academy and its new state of the art high school building on the SUN ‘n FUN campus. .

The March 4 First Friday SUN ‘n FUN Skyward Festival is being organized through the dedicated energies of its Chairman Ford Heacock, president of Heacock Insurance; Anne Furr, Executive Director of the Lakeland Downtown Development Authority; and Julie Townsend, Executive Director of the Downtown Lakeland Partnership. Special thanks and recognition are extended to the sponsors of the Skyward Festival including Heacock Insurance, Clark, Campbell, Mawhinney & Lancaster, PA MidFlorida Credit Union & Brooke Pottery.

For additional information on the March 4 First Friday activities, especially the status of the evening schedule should weather challenge the event, check the Downtown Lakeland Partnership website: www.downtownlakelandfl.com.

SUN ‘n FUN, a 501(c) (3) not–for–profit organization based in Lakeland, Florida, is best known for its annual fund raiser the International Fly–In & Expo held each March/April. The Fly–In is the primary source of funding for SUN ’n FUN’s expanding year–round aviation education programs. These include operation of the Florida Air Museum, the state’s “Official Aviation Museum and Education Center. In addition, SUN ’n FUN has initiated education programs for aviation enthusiasts of all ages – especially young people – featuring valuable “hands on” learning experiences. A growing scholarship program provides financial support to ensure SUN ‘n FUN’s education programs are accessible to all. For more information, access SUN ‘n FUN’s website (www.sun-n-fun.org) or call SUN ‘n FUN at (863–644–2431).