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Chamber reports 'Magic Over Murray' hot-air balloon event drew thousands; asks city to waive golf-cart fees
Summary
Kathy White of the Murray Area Chamber told the council the 2025 hot-air balloon Palooza — rebranded as "Magic Over Murray" — drew an estimated 7,000 attendees and generated roughly $9,000 net for the chamber; the Chamber asked the city to waive in-kind golf-cart rental fees for a June fundraiser, an item scheduled for formal action in two weeks.
Kathy White, the chamber organizer, told the Murray City Council Committee of the Whole that the chamber's 2025 hot-air balloon Palooza (to be rebranded as "Magic Over Murray") attracted what organizers estimate as more than 7,000 visits across the multi-day event and produced a net profit the chamber reported as "over $9,000." White said the figure is an estimate based on staff and vendor reports, not a precise count, and described an estimated 500 volunteer hours that supported launches, vendor operations and pilot hospitality.
"We had over 7,000 people attending, and we had a net profit of over $9,000," White said, adding that the attendance number is an estimate because the event did not use a crowd "heat map" this year. She walked the council through logistics from pilot hospitality and FAA certifications to tethered rides, vendor nights, and community booths, and noted plans to run school assemblies and to host community activities tied to the farmer's market at the next event.
Jennifer Kennedy, speaking for staff, said the Murray Area Chamber has requested an in-kind fee waiver for golf-cart rentals for a chamber golf tournament scheduled for June 12; Kennedy told council staff estimate the waived cart rental would be worth about $2,400. Council members asked about expected attendance and whether golf-course staff were aware; Kennedy said the golf course knows and the item will return to council for formal action in two weeks.
The chamber asked the city to continue providing police and fire presence at the event; White thanked the council for last year's public-safety support. White said the event will expand tethered rides in 2026 (three tethered balloons, up from one in an earlier year) and that organizers will continue to rely on a large volunteer corps. She also showed the council a proposed new logo and said organizers plan to use it for the next seven to eight years.
The council did not take immediate action on the fee-waiver request; staff said the waiver will appear as an action item at the next regular meeting for a formal vote.
