Gatesway to Hold Balloon Festival
Gatesway Foundation announces the 21st Anniversary Gatesway Balloon Festival to be held Sept. 15-17 at Chisholm Trail South Event Park, located at 21101 E. 101st St. (4000 E. New Orleans), just east of in Broken Arrow. In addition to being the 21st appearance of the community festival, this year will mark the return of “Oklahoma’s original Balloon Festival” to Broken Arrow.
President and of the Broken Arrow Chamber Wes Smithwick is thrilled for the homecoming, saying “The Chisholm Park was designed with Gatesway’s Balloon Festival in mind. The chamber is proud to partner with Gatesway in producing this classic family tradition.”
Gatesway is celebrating its 54th year of providing opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities throughout Eastern and Central Oklahoma. Gatesway offers an array of residential and employment programs that promote independence and provide opportunities for people with disabilities to improve their quality of life.
“Due to last year’s state budget cuts, we made the decision not to have the festival in 2016,” says Gatesway Balloon Festival Chair Anita Williams.
Gatesway was founded in 1963 by Helen Gates to provide alternatives for persons with intellectual disabilities like her son Ronnie, who was born with Down syndrome.
For more information about Gatesway and the balloon festival, visit gatesway.org.
Updated 08-28-2017
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