Balloon show has them laughing at Palos Heights Library

Laughter echoed from the meeting room as parents pack into the room. Library staff scrambled to set up more seats as the "balloon show" was starting. Audience expectations quickly changed from a guy simply twisting balloon hats, dogs, or snakes that could be taken home for a couple of hours of enjoyment, to an hour-long, comedic balloon performance that kept the kids laughing from start to finish. In place of miniature animals, they got full-size artistic creations and enough laughs to fill the entire room without a single “shush” from a librarian.

To celebrate Spring, the Youth Service of Palos Heights Public Library hosted a balloon entertainer and Lou Malnati's pizza party, for children and parents. “Magical Balloon-Dude Dale” is a balloon artist who combines incredible balloon creations with comedy geared toward kids for a great family-friendly show. Dale Obrochta’s show, Art of Inflation, books performances in a number of area venues.

Right from the beginning, Dale began a choreographed balloon twisting to music montage that demonstrated his balloon skill. A humorous tongue twisted introduction captivated parents' attention; and with that the show started. A series of colorful balloons at the ready transformed into a hat, and progressed in stages from a silly spiked hat, to a flower hat, into a peacock in front of the pre-K through 5th grade audience. The final result surprised not only the children, but all the parents as well, and the cheers indicated the show was off to a great start.

Dale’s balloon show relies on audience participation and the kids were more than willing to volunteer. Every little hand in the audience raised and Dale made a show of walking around the crowd to pick one shy girl. She perked up in response to Dale’s antics and soon was helping blow balloons out of her ear (with a device that looks like protective earmuffs).

Two parents were picked out of the crowd to help next. In minutes the audience was laughing as Dale demonstrated a karate stance needed to assist in the making of a balloon creation. Dale had the two moms hold several balloons together while he twisted and tied every which way. Finally, the balloon was turned upside-down to reveal a life-size ballerina, to the surprise and delight of the whole audience.

The final balloons included a peacock, octopus, dog, ballerina, and a giant flower. Forty-five minutes of giggles and laughs had the audience ready for Lou Malnati's deep dish pizza as the families were invited to eat, take pictures, and inspect the practically life-size balloon creations up close.

The library was a great place for Palos Heights residents to enjoy a fun morning of laugher, creativity and good pizza.

Balloon entertainment is just one of the many youth events scheduled by the Palos Heights Library. The calendar of events is located at http://www.palosheightslibrary.org/palos-library-calendar.html or a flyer can be picked up at the library front desk.