This week on What's Up Wednesday, a brand new line of items hits the store, jackets, pins, and patches are back in stock after inventory, and a ballooning history note.
Let's start with the brand-new line we have just released on Balloon Fiesta Stuff. We call it our Signature Style line. While most of our sportswear is created just for Balloon Fiesta, the Signature Style line is name-brand items, with a special Balloon Fiesta Logo added. Some of the brands already in our new line include North Face, Nautica, Tommy Bahama, and Nike. We've added a quick access menu to view the entire line of Signature Style items. Check it out, and let us know what you think.
As we've been telling you for a couple of weeks, since the 2025 Balloon Fiesta ended, we've been hard at work consolidating the inventory from 5 locations back to just online and our physical gift shop. That means a lot of moving and counting products. We're pleased to report that we have completed the process on all pins and patches, and everything we have is now available online and in our gift shop. Note, we have completely sold out of the walking stick and heritage pins, as well as the mystery pin sets.
And all those pilot, navigator, Globitos, and sponsor jackets that we provided to those groups have also been processed and are now available. Remember, on the jackets, sizes are limited, so don't delay, select your style and size quickly. More inventory will be returning to online and the gift shop in the weeks to come. Stay tuned to What's Up Wednesday, and check online regularly if there's something in particular you're looking for.
Finally, today is an important day in ballooning history. As noted on our Official Balloon Fiesta Calendar, it was on this day in 1960 that Ed Yost took the first modern hot air balloon free flight. After five years of prototyping and testing, Yost flew for about one hour and 35 minutes using a propane burner to provide the heat to keep the balloon afloat. It was a year later that Raven Industries, founded by Yost and others in 1956, actually sold the first modern hot air balloon, launching the sport of ballooning that we enjoy today.
And thank you for your support of Balloon Fiesta and Balloon Fiesta Stuff.