In 1986 the United Way of Cleveland set out to break a world record with a plan to release over a million balloons in the air. A curious scene developed. Residents inflated rounds with helium until they had to bandage their fingers, while an undulating mass of colored orbs loomed over the city, waiting to go up, up, and away. But liftoff did not go as planned, and unexpected consequences stretched far wider than the downtown city blocks. Utilizing news footage from the event and the days that followed, Balloonfest resonates beyond its length, encouraging us to consider how our actions might affect those farther downwind. ST