The Big Balloon Build

Yes, Allison Dunning plans to build something at the Big Balloon Build happening at Aims Community College, July 20-24. It’s almost a silly question.

“How could we have 25,000 balloons [in Greeley] and I not have a chance to play with them?” Dunning said.

It’s silly to ask because Dunning has built a career and two businesses around balloons.

Owner of the The Balloon Boutique, in downtown Greeley she sells balloon arrangements, vintage candy and a variety of celebratory goodies. Dunning is also the owner of Balloon Art by Merry Makers, under which she paints faces at events such as the Arts Picnic, twists balloons into cute shapes and animals and makes balloon sculptures for weddings and events of all kinds.

But, she made her name at The Big Balloon Build an international, charitable ballooning organization. And she’s kind of a big deal among the worldwide balloon artist crowd. As if to prove it, she’s bringing the event to Greeley!

A former board member of the Greeley Creative District, Dunning devoted two years of her life to this event because she loves the Big Balloon Build’s mission and wanted to share it with Greeley. She also sees this as an opportunity to show her community the skill it takes to do what she does.

“When I tell people that I’m a balloon artist, they tend to respond with something like, ‘Oh, how cute,’” Dunning said. “This is a real industry. I have fought for so long for people to take me seriously. I’m proud of what I do. I want to show what can be done with balloons.”

A lot of the event is open to the public, with several ticket packages available, including a general admission to see the build from 11 am—5 pm Saturday and 11 am to 8 pm Sunday.

By Dan England