Sint-Niklaas (The Brussels Morning Newspaper): During the Vredefeesten, on 6th September Friday’s clear skies allowed successful hot air balloon flights, but on 7th September Saturday’s thick fog canceled morning flights. Organizers remain hopeful for evening flights as conditions improve.
During the Vredefeesten, the weather on 6th September Friday evening was just right for the hot air balloon flights. The clear skies allowed the balloons to take off as planned, delighting the spectators and adding to the festive atmosphere. It has been said that the successful flights that evening were a big highlight, showcasing the fun of hot-air ballooning. However, on 7th September Saturday morning brought thick fog, making it hard to see and unsafe for the balloons to fly. Because of this, the morning flights were canceled, and the balloons had to stay on the ground. This change left many attendees disappointed, but they understood that safety is the most important thing.
What challenges did the Vredefeesten balloon festival face in Sint-Niklaas?
On September 7, 2024 around 8:30 a.m., the festival organizers decided to cancel the hot air balloon flights planned for that morning because the fog was still thick. Co-organizer Elisabeth Rosseneu said, “The fog persists, which means we can’t fly safely this morning,” pointing out the safety worries due to the low visibility. The fog made it unsafe for the balloons to take off, leading to the tough but necessary choice to cancel the flights. Despite the morning’s cancellation, there was hope for improvement later in the day. Rosseneu shared her optimism about the evening, saying, “Hopefully the balloons can still go up tonight, since it should be a beautiful day.” The organizers were hopeful that the weather would clear up by evening, allowing the balloons to take flight and bring back the expected aerial displays for the festival.
Rosseneu shared that they were hoping the clouds would go away in the afternoon, even knowing it would rain later. The weather had been unpredictable, but their meteorologists helped them anticipate the right moment. Although there was construction happening at the Grote Mark in Sint-Niklaas, it didn’t turn out to be a big issue. Rosseneu noted that while they couldn’t remove the construction zone, everything was set for a successful event.
