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What Is A Balloon Drop
A balloon drop is an event decoration and entertainment technique where a large number of inflated balloons are released from above and descend slowly, creating a visually stunning and exciting spectacle. The balloons are typically suspended using nets, release mechanisms, or other supporting structures attached to the ceiling or framework of the venue.
What Are Balloon Drops Used For
Balloon drops are commonly used for various celebrations, parties, and special events to add an element of surprise, fun, and festivity. Here are some occasions where balloon drops are often employed:
New Year’s Eve
Balloon drops are a popular tradition in many places around the world to mark the beginning of the new year. As the clock strikes midnight, thousands of balloons are released, creating a joyous and celebratory atmosphere.
Concerts and Festivals
Balloon drops are sometimes used during concerts or music festivals to enhance the overall experience and excitement for the audience. They can be timed with the climax of a performance to create a dramatic effect.
Sporting Events
In some sports events, especially in basketball or volleyball, balloon drops may be used during pre-game introductions, halftime shows, or after a team’s victory to engage the fans and celebrate the occasion.
Corporate Events
Balloon drops can be part of corporate events, conferences, and product launches to add a touch of fun and liven up the atmosphere.
Charity And Fundraising Events
Balloon drops can be used to attract attention, encourage donations, and entertain attendees at charity events and fundraisers.
It’s important to note that while balloon drops can be visually captivating and enjoyable, they can also have environmental implications. After the event, the balloons may fall to the ground or scatter, potentially becoming litter and causing harm to wildlife.
To mitigate these issues, some event organizers are opting for environmentally friendly alternatives or using biodegradable balloons. Always consider the environmental impact and opt for responsible practices when planning events involving balloon drops.
DIY Balloon Drop
Now that you have learned about the excitement and versatility of balloon drops for various events, you might be interested in creating your very own DIY balloon drop. My kids always love when we set up a balloon drop: for birthdays, New Year’s Eve, or just a random Tuesday.
This DIY Ballon Drop is a fun and budget-friendly way to add a touch of magic to your upcoming celebration and bonus, they are reusable. Follow these simple steps to get started and bring the joy of a balloon drop right to your own venue.
What You Will Need:
Open And Line Up
Start out by spreading out the tablecloths, you are going to need a workspace about the size of your tablecloths. Line your two tablecloths up together. If you want one particular side to be on the outside of your finished balloon drop make sure your line the finished outside facing sides together.
Glue
Next, we are going to glue three of the four sides of the tablecloths together. Glue one of the long sides of the tablecloth together, followed by the two shorter sides. When gluing the two shorter sides, leave about six inches of space un-glued space along the long open side. This will help make sure the balloons don’t get stuck during the drop.
Flip Tablecloths Right Side Out
Flip the tablecloth’s right side out so the side you actually want to see is facing out.
Add Hanging Binder Rings (Optional Eyelets)
Next, find the two back corners of your balloon drop pouch and make a hole in each corner using your hole punch.
If using the optional eyelets, add an eyelet to the grommet punch, line up the hole, and squeeze. This optional step gives the balloon drop a nicer finish and helps the balloon drop be a little more sturdy.
Add the binder rings through the back corner holes.
Add Holes To Open Side (Optional Eyelets)
On the long open side, add holes using the hole punch. You can measure your tablecloths and evenly space out your holes or you can just eyeball where to put the holes. The important thing is you don’t space your holes out too far that the balloons will slip through. For example: if you are using nine inch balloons, make sure your holes are spaced less than nine inches.
Line the two pieces of tablecloth together and punch a hole through both sides, ensuring the holes are in the same place on each side.
Next, the optional eyelets, separate the two tablecloths, and using the grommet punch add eyelets to each side separately.
Inflate Balloons
Inflate all of your balloons for your balloon drop. You don’t have to worry about sizing them, just blow them up and tie them. If you need more information on how to tie a balloon check out my posts How To Tie A Balloon or How To Use A Balloon Tie Tool.
Stuff The Balloon Drop
Carefully start stuffing the balloons into your balloon drop pouch through the open hole we left. You may have to begin step 9 before you have all the balloons in your balloon drop, in order to keep the balloons from escaping.
Lace Ribbon Through The Eyelets
Start by lacing your ribbon through each of the eyelets, making sure to leave lots of ribbon on the side you plan to pull from.
Hang Command Hooks
Follow the instructions on the package to hang the command hooks from the ceiling, or whatever location you are wanting to hang the balloon drop.
Hang Your Balloon Drop
Next, hang the binder rings through the command hooks, hanging the balloon drop.
When Ready Pull The Ribbon And Enjoy!
DIY Easy Balloon Drop Video
How Many Balloons For A Balloon Drop
The number of balloons for your balloon drop will depend on the size of your pouch or netting and the size of your balloons. here is a quick equation to determine how many balloons you would need.
For simplicities sake, we are going to use Length x Width x Height = Cubic Feet (cu ft) / cu ft of the balloons (I have included a chart of cu ft for standard balloon sizes)
| Balloon Size | Approximate Cubic Feet |
| 5″ | 0.038 |
| 6″ | 0.065 |
| 7″ | 0.104 |
| 8″ | 0.155 |
| 9″ | 0.221 |
| 10″ | 0.303 |
| 11″ | 0.403 |
For Example: If you used the tablecloths from this post this is approximately how many balloons you would need depending on the size you are using.
| Balloon Size | Approximate Balloon Quantity |
| 5″ | 3,368 |
| 6″ | 1,969 |
| 7″ | 1,230 |
| 8″ | 825 |
| 9″ | 579 |
| 10″ | 422 |
| 11″ | 317 |
Remember, a DIY balloon drop can be a fantastic addition to any celebration, but it’s essential to clean up afterward responsibly. Dispose of the balloons properly to avoid any harm to the environment. Now go ahead and have a blast creating your DIY balloon drop!
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