This week on What's Up Wednesday, it's all about the pilots, a preview of holiday shopping opportunities, and a thank you!
We want to start today by remembering and honoring all those who have served our country. On this Veterans Day, we encourage you to thank a veteran and take a moment to remember the sacrifices they and their families have made so that we can enjoy the freedoms we have today. To our veterans and their families, thank you!
As our longtime shoppers know, we create and acquire quite a few special items for the participants of Balloon Fiesta. We recently told you about the sponsor jackets and vests that are now available. This week, it's all about pilot merchandise!
Let's start with the pins. There are five different designs: one for our regular pilots, one for our Special Shape pilots, another for the Flight of the Nations pilots, one for our Balloon Glow pilots, and finally, a pin for our Globitos operators. Those are the folks who operate the remote-control balloons. The designs closely resemble their retail counterparts, with the word "Pilot" incorporated into the pilot pin designs. In addition to the pins, all our pilots receive a commemorative patch, and those are now available, too!
On the clothing side, we did things a little differently this year. Early in the pilot application process, we asked pilots about their clothing preferences. This gave us a much better idea of how many of each item and size to order, helping us get closer to the actual quantities needed. As a result, there's less leftover pilot clothing available this year. We have a charcoal-gray polo with the Balloon Fiesta logo embroidered on the front chest and The Scenic Route logo embroidered on the upper back. There's also a burgundy hoodie and a "Blue-out" ball cap.
One thing you won't find this year is a pilot jacket. We didn't have any extras remaining after filling the pilot orders. In fact, quantities of everything we're offering are limited, and clothing sizes are especially limited.
And there's more! We have a Globitos cooler tote, a Special Shape tumbler, a smaller Globitos short tumbler (about half the size of the Special Shape tumbler), a Pilot North Face backpack, and a BruMate Togosa Set that includes two tumblers and a wine chiller. Each item features a Balloon Fiesta logo.
These were all originally purchased as gifts for our participants, and what we're offering now is the remaining inventory. If you see something you like, don't wait too long!
Balloon Fiesta Live! may not have brought home an Emmy this year, but the Rocky Mountain Emmy nomination is certainly something to celebrate. We're proud of the entire crew and grateful for the incredible work they do bringing Balloon Fiesta to viewers everywhere. Congratulations on a terrific 10th anniversary season!
To celebrate the show's 10th anniversary, the final few Crew T-shirts are now on sale. If you've been thinking about getting one, now's the time!
With just a little more than two weeks until Thanksgiving and Black Friday, it's time to give you an update on our holiday shopping schedule. There are several important dates to keep in mind, so you may want to save this email or check the calendar on our store website.
First, we'll be closed on both Thanksgiving and Black Friday. Our big December Sale begins at 8 p.m. on Friday, December 4, and runs through the weekend. Just like last year, this is an online-only sale.
If you prefer to shop in person, December 11 is the last day to visit the Gift Shop. For online shoppers, December 14 at 8 a.m. is the final cutoff for placing orders. If you have an order waiting for pickup, you can collect it through 5 p.m. on December 18.
Here's one date that's especially important: we will not accept any new orders between 8 a.m. on December 14 and 12:01 a.m. on January 1, 2027. This annual year-end closure gives our team time to complete inventory, handle year-end reporting, and take some well-deserved holiday time. Our office will be closed starting December 19.
A complete calendar with all the dates and times is available on the store website. The bottom line is that our shopping season ends earlier than you might expect. Shop early, not only for the best selection, but also to give your orders the best chance of arriving before the holidays.
As always, thanks for your support of Balloon Fiesta and Balloon Fiesta Stuff. And don't forget to forward this email to your fellow Balloon Fiesta fans!