To commemorate what would have been Walt Disney’s 84th birthday and to recognize Disneyland’s 30th year in operation, Anaheim sponsored a million-balloon salute called Skyfest. The December 5, 1985, event included representatives from Disneyland, Anaheim city government, schools, and local nonprofit organizations. One thousand tubes, each holding 1,000 balloons, were all launched at exactly 2:00 p.m. along Katella Avenue between Harbor Boulevard and West Street, literally blanketing the sky with the multicolored, helium-filled orbs. This launch far exceeded the previous world’s record of a 384,800-balloon release in Japan the previous year. (Courtesy of Anaheim Public Library’s Digital Anaheim Project.)
Arcadia
