Raleigh Balloon Glow helps bring tourism back to Raleigh
Raleigh Balloon Glow lit up the sky on Friday night. The three day balloon festival is sold out, and could mean other upcoming festivals will be bringing more traffic and tourism dollars into Raleigh.
Around 1,000 people filled Dorothea Dix Park for the balloons. Organizers said more people could have fit into the park, but they wanted to make sure people had enough room to social distance.
The Feliciano family had front row seats to the event.
"It's a beautiful evening, great people and great scenery. It is just a perfect afternoon. We are here and relaxing," said Brandy Feliciano. "Everybody is coming out and having fun [and] respect people's distance."
People at the event said they are gaining confidence about venturing back out in public.
"I think it is a good thing. I hope," said attendee Yasmin Ali.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, event organizers asked people to maintain social distancing, bring masks, and set capacity limits.
"Instead of packing it out and trying to grab every penny, you can say let's build so people can have a good time and they want to come back year after year," said organizer Richard Garvie.
Organizers said since the event sold out quickly, they will look how how they can grow and sustain in the coming years.
"We are trying to move past COVID ... COVID is going to be around a year or two. We will have those peaks because of the numbers," said Garvie.
The impact of recent festivals and events in Raleigh is also making a difference in hotel stays, with occupancy rates up by 21 percent.
In January, occupancy rates were at 38 percent, while rates in August soared to 63 percent.
"We are really seeing an uptick on the weekends," said Dennis Edwards, with Visit Raleigh. "There is no questions -- it's the festival, sporting events and concerts that are driving that occupancy."
Edwards said that before the pandemic, hotel occupancy rates were at 76 percent. He said that the latest occupancy numbers show that the city is headed in the right direction.
"It's extremely encouraging. It tells us consumer confidence is coming back [and] people are feeling more comfortable traveling," said Edwards.
Edwards added that football games, such as the North Carolina State University versus Clemson University game, are also increasing hotel occupancy rates this weekend.
"If we have tickets, they are going to sell," he said. "Concerts are selling out and festivals are going up to maximum capacity."
