This topic was featured in the February 2024 Kansas Country Living Centerspread.

CONSIDER ALTERNATIVES TO A BALLOON RELEASE

Everyone has great intentions when planning a balloon release. However, as soon as balloons are let go, they can go from sentiment to hazard.

Although beautiful to look at, balloons can cause power outages.

LATEX AND MYLAR BALLOONS AND ATTACHED STRINGS AND RIBBONS CAN:

Threaten birds and animals (via ingestion and entanglement).
Harm marine life.
Obstruct the flight path or cause damage to an airplane’s engine.
Cause ground and ocean trash.
Create plastic pollution.

ACCORDING TO THE ROYAL SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS:

What goes up, must come down: Balloons will fall back to earth either semi-deflated or in tiny and hard-to-retrieve fragments.
Only an estimated 5% of all released balloons return intact. 
Even if balloons are marketed as degradable, they may take several weeks to break down.

ALTERNATIVES TO BALLOONS:

Blow bubbles.
Light candles. 
Throw biodegradable confetti.
Plant trees or flowers.
Paint stones.