Local woman has special hot air balloon photo
Balloons: Jean and JR Burris were given this picture of hot air balloons landing in the backyard of their former home by strangers who happened to pass by that day. They would love to know who took the picture so they can thank them. Photo contributed to The Beacon
COSHOCTON – The annual Hot Air Balloon Festival often creates great opportunities for amazing photos and Jean Burris has a very unique one hanging in her living room.
In 2010 or 2011 the balloons came up State Route 621 and landed in her yard.
“We were up getting ready for church and about 7 a.m. or 7:15 a.m. there was a knock on the door,” Burris said. “They asked if they could land here and we thought it would be just one, but we stopped counting at 13. They waited until some packed up and then more landed. They couldn’t land other places because of all the cornfields.”
People stopped and took pictures and Burris also took many. One of the people even came back later with an 8×10 copy of a photo of three balloons behind the Burris’ home.
“I had it matted and framed,” Burris said. “I was just so thrilled with it. I was out back taking pictures of balloons and it never dawned on me to go out front.”
Jean and her husband JR had nine acres at the time and the balloons were everywhere.
“They said ours was the only vacant place where they could all get in,” she said.
Jean enjoys the balloon festival and has other photos of the balloons landing, but this one that was given to her by strangers will always be special.
“I would really love to know who they were,” she said. “They were just a young couple, probably in their 20s. I’d like to thank them.”
If you’d like to try your hand at taking hot air balloon festival pictures then you won’t want to miss the 34th annual Coshocton Hot Air Balloon Festival, which will be held Thursday through Saturday, June 4-6, at the Coshocton County Fairgrounds.
“Be quick if you want to take pictures,” Jean said. “They are there and then they are gone. I was so surprised at how many people follow them and help get them down.”
The festival is presented by Frontier Power, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative. Admission, parking, and grandstand entertainment are free and the official event program is included with this week’s edition of The Beacon.
josie@coshoctoncountybeacon.com
Category: People & Places
