Cathedral City Hot Air Balloon Festival Caught Up In Obama Visit to California

Nearly 20 balloons were set to participate in the Cathedral City Hot Air Balloon Festival on Valentine's Day weekend, but the balloons had to remain tethered to the ground due to a VIP TFR in the area associated with a visit by President Obama.

Obama arrived in Palm Springs, CA Friday afternoon for a summit with Asian leaders over the weekend. Unfortunately for the festival, the summit happened to coincide with the balloon event in Cathedral City, and ballooning is one of the aviation activities prohibited by a TFR, which was in effect through Tuesday afternoon local time.

The Desert Sun reports that the balloons did get off the ground about 30-40 feet securely tethered to the ground. But no free flights were allowed.

Firebird Balloon operator Rolli Little from Phoenix said he was not aware of the restrictions until he arrived in Palm Springs.

In all, about six balloons offered tethered flights during the event, and features like an evening balloon glow went forward as planned.

The theme for the event was "Love is in the Air", and while that was technically true ... love didn't get to soar to great heights on Valentine's Day in Cathedral City.

(Image from file)

FMI: www.hotairballoonfest.com/about.php