Northridge : Handlers Wanted for Super-Hero Balloon

Bullock’s is seeking volunteers for a task of super-heroic proportions.

Handlers are needed to guide the Spiderman balloon, a Gargantuan attraction known for its annual appearance at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, during its visit to Northridge Fashion Center on Aug. 10.

“They just need to be conscientious and weigh more than 135 pounds,” said Betty Krogh, spokeswoman for Macy’s and Bullock’s. “And be able to take directions.”

It takes two hours to pump the 78-by-36-foot replica of Marvel Comics’ famed webslinger with 8,300 cubic feet of cold helium. Unlike their aeronautical cousins, parade balloons don’t use hot air and aren’t designed to be tethered.

The Spiderman figure is made up of separate chambers, to better withstand punctures and other hazards faced by a super-balloon. Each chamber--head, arms, legs and hands--is transported in an individual crate and the parts are assembled at their destination.

“You can never predict the weather,” said Krogh. “If you clip a lamp pole and get any type of hole or damage, you’ve got the rest of the chambers.”

This will be the Spiderman balloon’s first visit to Southern California and second appearance in California. The occasion will mark the reopening of Bullock’s following a long period of earthquake repairs.

More information about volunteering as a handler is available by calling (818) 379-2810.