hot air balloon festivals balloon organizations hot air balloon rides balloon events Complete list of OHIO HOT AIR BALLOON FESTIVALS & many of the HOT AIR BALLOON RIDES in Ohio
Also seeAttractions - Events by Type - Info links - Restaurants - Shops pages
Many of festivals have at least some other activities besides balloons.
~~27 events in 26 cities -- 15 Ohio Festivals with several Hot Air Balloons; 9 "liftoffs of a few balloons at other festivals, county fairs, winery events; 4 glows; + 2 balloon clubs with flyouts~~ NOTE : Balloon launches are DEPENDENT on the WEATHER--They can NOT lauch if winds are above 10 mph. FAA prohibits launch if storms are approaching within 60 miles- They festival people WANT TO LAUNCH but final control is up to the FAA Federal Aviation Administration. Refunds are not given at probably 95% of the festivals- they still have all the expenses.
You probably don't realize it, but a festival of any size costs $20,000. to $100,000. to put on.
ALSO SEE THE GROUP: OHIO HOT AIR BALLOON ON FACEBOOK
PORTAGE COUNTY FIRST - THEN STATE WIDE ALPHABETICALLY BY CITY HOT AIR BALLOON RALLYS HOT AIR BALLOON EVENTS A listing of ,hopefully, all the balloon events in Ohio. There are 22 or more balloon shows with another 2 or 3 with a 2-5 balloons as part of another celebration. Also the balloon clubs has about 4 flyouts a year in conjunction with their meetings. * * * * * * * * * * * * *
OHIO HOT AIR BALLOON EVENTS Continuing ( from 2009)
Ravenna Aurora Alliance Ashland Berlin Center Burton Canal Fulton Canton Chagrin Falls Cincinnati (2) Coshocton Findlay Grove City Hartville Hilliard Indian Lake Louisville Madison Marie Stein Marysville Middletown(2) Plain City Stow? Urbana Wellington Xenia Maysville KY
THIS LIST DOES NOT INCLUDE BALLOON EVENTS WHICH ARE TETHERED RIDES ONLY
RAVENNA 44266 PORTAGE CO.
RAVENNA BALLOON A-FAIR 32nd year- The 2nd OLDEST in OHIO >M< 330-296-FAIR (see org page -& -Balloon A-Fair pg) www.ravennaballoonafair.com 330-296-FAIR Newspaper www.recordpub.com Akron Beacon www.ohio.com Weekend of the 3rd Saturday of September every year.
AURORA - PORTAGE CO. THORNCREEK WINERY - 155 Treat Rd 2009 Fri, Sat Aug 7-8 HOT AIR BALLOON RALLY (First year 2009) 4 balloons Free admission www.thorncreekwinery.com 330-562-9245
ALLIANCE - STARK CO. CARNATION FESTIVAL - 2009 ThurJuly 30- Sun Aug 16 >M< See Other Fests on Events By Type page Balloon launch 2009 Balloon launch Thurs Aug 13 -after 6pm-Silver Spring Park Rain date Fri. www.carnationfestival.com newspaper The Alliance Review www.the-review.c
ASHLAND - ASHLAND CO. Ashland BALLOON FEST > - 2010 Thur July 1 Sun July 4 - ( First Year 1990 ) www.ashlandohioballoonfest.com
BERLIN CENTER : MAHONING CO. MASTROPIETRO WINERY 14558 Ellsworth Rd 44401 2010 Sun Aug 22 3nd annual balloon festival. balloons www.mastropietrowinery.com (1st year 2008)
BURTON - GEAUGA CO
Great Geauga County Fair A Balloon Flight Thur? Fri Sat Sun, & Mon? evening. 2009 Sept 3-7 - 4 balloons www.geaugafair.com
CANAL FULTON -STARK CO.
YANKEE PEDDLER FESTIVALClay's Park Crafts and Deminstrations & music of 200 years ago. Extremely popular festival. 2009 Sept 19-20 There is a lift off of a few hot air balloons at 5pm Sat & Sun. Festival runs 3 weekends in Sept. www.yankeepeddlerfestival.com
CHAGRIN FALLS - CUYAHOGA CO. -Memorial Day Weekend BLOSSOM TIME FESTIVAL-HEINENS BALLOON FESTIVAL 2009 Thur May 21 - Mon May25 - Glow 8pm Thur- flights morning & evening Fri - Sun-Mon morn. 2009 info: Balloons at High School-free-Parade Downtown Sun 2pm- Carnaval in Park. Sponsored by Cuyahoga Valley Jaycees. www.cvjc.org First year balloons 1988 www.chagrinballoonfest.com
CINCINNATI - HAMILTON CO LaRosa’s Balloon Glow - Coney Island Park - 2009 Fri Jul 3 - 5pm-10pm Enterainment, Balloons, Fireworks 10th Annual. Event FREE - Rides normal rates. Parking $10.00 after 4pm. www.coneyislandpark.com/special_calendar.php
BALLUMINARIA - Eden Park, 950 Eden Park Dr - 2009 Sat Nov 21 4-6 pm Hot Air Balloon Glow Sponsored by Cincinnati Park Dept. www.cincyparks.com
TALL STACK FESTIVAL - Held every 3 or 4 years. Last 2006 next 2009 STEAM BOATS - 2006 also had hot air balloons.
Coshocton - COSHOCTON CO Hot Air Balloon Festival -- 2010- Fri-Sun Jun 11 - 13 - 30th year http://www.coshoctoncounty.net/agency/chamber/Balloon%20Festival.php First year 1982 (They are claiming the oldest in Ohio Ravenna Balloon A-Fair is the 32th festival -starting 1979 - Marysville 1975)
FINDLAY - HANCOCK CO Flag City Balloon Fest2010 Fri Aug 13-Sun Aug 15 - 11th anniversary www.FlagCityBalloonFest.com
GROVE CITY OH - FRANKLIN CO Balloons Off BroadwaY - 2008 Sat Aug 9 , Flight & Evening Glow 2009 - Expanded to BALLOONS AND TUNES 2009 Fri Aug 21 - Sun Aug 23 Sponsored by City of Grove City . All day event- Visitors and Convention Bureau (800)539-0405 www.visitgrovecityoh.com http://www.visitgrovecityoh.com/calendar-8.html
HARTVILLE - STARK CO. MAIZE VALLEY FARM & Winery 2009 Sat - Sep 26 - Hot Air Balloons - Flight and glow (2008 $8.00 & 5.00 -over 70 years free.) www.maizevalleywinery.com/ohiofamilyactivities
HILLIARD OH - FRANKLIN CO Franklin County Fair 2009 Balloons Tues July 21 www.franklincountyfairgrounds.org
INDIAN LAKE -LOGAN CO FALL FESTIVAL & LIFT OFF 20010 Fri Sat Sun Sep 24 -26, Balloons on 25th? www.indianlakechambert.ort 937.8436.5392 First Year 2007
LOUISVILLE - STARK CO. CONSTITUTION DAYS FESTIVAL - 10 DAYS - In 2009 2009 Hot Air Balloons Fri Aug 21 Sat 22nd.. 2009 Constitution Days Festival Sept 11-20 www.louisvillefest.org
MADISON - LAKE CO. HOT AIR BALLOON RALLY 27th- 2009 DEBONNE VINEYARDS 2010-Fri Jun 11- ---7 to 11pm - Balloon Glow
MARIE STEIN -MERCER CO Ohio MARIE STEIN COUNTRY FEST ->m<2010 Fri Sun-Jun 25 - 27 SSW of St Marys-NW of of Sidney OH 22st festival. Free Admission, parking and entertainment. Brochure on line. www.mscountryfest.com
WINTER BALLOON GLOW. 2009 Dec 2 6-8 pm Free - (1st Tue of Dec) Part of LIGHT UP MIDDLETOWN . Admission for this. www.ohiotraveler.com/december_events.htm#LIGHT UP MIDDLETOWN
MINERVA - STARK CO. Minerva Hot Air Balloon Fest 2nd Annual - 2007 2006 & 2007 only, none in 2008, no word on one 2009 (as of 8-11-2009) http://www.minervachamber.com/
PLAIN CITY : MADISON CO SHEKINAH FESTIVAL - Shekinah Christian School Free -- 2010 Fri eve sept 11, SAT Sept 12 7:00am - ? 2009 :Fri Worship Concert --- Sat Balloon Flight- 7 AM only-approx balloons activities during day. www.shekinahchristianschool.com
WAPAKONETA - AUGLAIZE CO SUMMER MOON FESTIVAL 2009 Mon July 13 - Mon Jul 20 Balloons 7-19 Festival to honor 40th year of moon landing. http://www.summermoonfestival.com/ Balloons for 40th year anniversay only, festival has been held sereral years.
XENIA - GREEN CO Xenia Old Fashioned Days Festival - 2009 Fri, Sat, Sun Sept 18, 19, 20 Events include BALLOON GLOW 2009 Sat 9-19 www.xacc.com Xenia Area Chamber of Commerce 937.
VARIOUS LOCATIONS: Both balloon clubs will sometimes have flyouts before their meetings- weather permitting.
KENTUCKY : MAYSVILLE On Ohio River halfway between Cincinnati & Portsmouth BUFFALO TRACE BALLOON RACE - 2010 Fri - Sat July 30 - 31 www.buffalotraceballoonrace.com www.hotairballoon.com/The-Buffalo-Trace-Balloon-Race
PENNSYLVANIA : Shawnee Inn Balloon Festival _ PA in the Poconos October (cal pg)(rest pg) No longer by Shawnee Inn - Now is at SHAWNEE MOUNTAIN- combined with their LUMBERJACK FESTIVAL.- The Shawnee Autumn Timber and Tether Festival 2009 - Fri Oct 16- 4pm -9pm / Sat Sun Oct 17 - 18 7am - 6pm www.shawneemt.com
WEST VIRGINIA Morgantown, WV 26501 In Octobor (cal pg)(rest pg) University Motors Mountaineer Balloon Festival - 2010 - Thur-Sun Oct 7- 10 - Mylan Park. 304-296-4401 - www.ummbf.comhttp://www.ummbf.com/main.html (not held in 2008 due to schedule conflect)
MICHIGAN : BATTLE CREEK HOLIDAY BALLOON FEST 2007 Nov 30, Dec 1-2 10th Year 70 BAlloons www.holidayballoonfest.com
CALIFORNIA : COALINGA WHAMOBASS BALLOON INVITATIONAL FLY Whiskey Hill-Atherton-Menlo Oaks Ballooning and Sporting Society OLDEST CONTINUOUS HOT AIR BALLOON FESTIVAL IN THE UNITED STATES 2008 - Fri - Sun Nov 21-23 - Started in 1965- is on the weekend of or near Nov 21-the date of first balloon flight in France, Nov 21, 1783. The first Whamobass was in 1965 with one balloon - there were less than 15 hot air balloons in the world all in US. http://upcoming.yahoo.com/event/392413http://www.pcaballoons.org
NOTE: The modern hot air propane burner invented 1960. The first U S National Championships meet was in 1963, - was in Middletown OH in 1992, 93, 94 not held in 1967-68-69 and 2000.
NEW JERSEY: QUICK CHECK FESTIVAL OF BALLOONING - 2009 Jul 24-26 Readington NJ - 27th. Largest summertime hot air and music festival in country - 125 balloons.
FORMER FESTIVALS: OHO AURORA - Balloons during July 4th festival 1980 Fri Sat Sun July 4,5,6.- 1981 -July 4,5,6;1982 Sat Sun 7-03,7-04 Still researching COLUMBUS - GROVE CITY BIG BEAR FESTIVAL A couple of years start 2000?
VAN WERT Started in 1980's - 1999 Last year.
WADSWORTH
TOLEDO 2-3 years late 1990's sponsored by Big Brothers,Big Sisters or Boys & Girls Club.
BOOKS:OhioHot Air Balloon Geography Mystery by Carole Marsh Juvenal Non-fiction -- Ohio libraies have 3 copies-different years cpy rgt School children are in balloon when a storm blows them all over Ohio. The book tells what's below and you are to identify the location - city.
BOOK & VIDEO.: HOT AIR HENRY. Juvenal Fiction --Story of a cat whose family was going for balloon ride. Henry jumps in the the basket, pulls the throttle cord & balloon takes off with him alone.
Hot Air Ballooning | Links | Forum - Hot Air Ballooning and Related Links Gives info on ballooning - Has links - info by state www.hotairballooning.com
ALBURQUERQUE BALLOON MUSEUM - New Mexico www.balloonmuseum.com
HOT AIR BALLOON RIDES : PLEASE NOTE - Scheduled rides are dependent on weather conditions at flight time!! and wear a hat, that burner puts off a lot of heat.
We believe thesepilots give balloon rides or can refer to those who do. Bill Cloninger - Amish Country Tours- Chagrin Falls www.ltaaviation.com/
America's Unknown Destinations -Chet Davis www.balloonfun.net Kent OH 44240
Pete Hawkins- Pleasure Ballooning - Sebring, OH 44672 330.938.2037
Rick Kohut - Louisville OH 44641 330.875.7010 Ken Kus Chagrin Falls, OH 44022 440.336.1875 John T Moran - Cortland OH 330.924.2677 - farms99@earthlink.net (put BALLOONS in Subject line)
Ken Myers - Akron- OH 330.923.4600 myersdolphin@aol.com Aerial Balloon Company - Akron 330.867.1842 star5glazr@aol.com Dick Rossen - Aeronaut
Dan Saul - Cuyahoga - Lorain - Medina Cos 440.331.6847 Penny & Paul Suttle Strasburg, OH 44680 www.theballoonpeople.com Heaven bound Accensions Balloon rides, inflatable amusements - Dennis Welser Tallmadge, Oh www.fun-makers.com
GIBBONEY'S AEROSTATION - Grove city, Oh- REAL ADVENTURE Hot AIR BALLOON - Columbus http://realadventureinc.com/ www.rballoon.com BALLOON ADVENTURES - Cincinnati - 513.984.2404
BELLA BALLOONS HOT AIR BALLOON COMPANY Dayton, Cincinnati, SW ohio www.flybellaballoons.com GENTLE BREEZE Lebanon - also Cincinnati & Dayton 513.932.9007 www.gentlebreeze.com
FLYING COLOURS HOT AIR BALLOONS 614.202.7512 Columbus www.flyingcoloursballoons.com Dave, carole Strickland
2006 Video of balloon launch www.youtube.com search Ravenna Balloon A-Fair
CRAFT SHOW PEOPLE: Booth space for crafters is available at a very reasonable price. Time periods:Saturday- downtown all day OR Sunbeau late afternoon to night. Because of time overlap you would need 2 setups & 2 crews to do both downtown & Sunbeau on Saturday. Sunday - all day at Sunbeau (moring to 7pm).
2010 FESTIVAL-PARADE THEME -AN ADVENTURE IN THE CLOULDS
2010 - GRAND MARSHAL -has been chosen The Grand Marshall is someone who has made great contributions to the community primarily in non-employment areas and is a resident of Ravenna Citiy or Twp.
Children's Parade 2010 Thur., Sept 16, 6:30 pm Theme: Around 200 children with Walking Floats, Wagon Floats, Costumes, Pets, etc,- About 12-15 minutes - Ronald McDonald entertains afterward at the prize ceremony.
No dogs, pets, skateboards, roller blades, etc, bicycles Downtown or Sunbeau
Main Festival Sat.& Sun -- 2010 Sept 18 & 19 2009 info Downtown- SAT only GRAND PARADE -9:00 am Rain or Shine - 100 to 135 units
Food, Craft, Display Booths till 5:oo pm - Children's Alley.
>Downtown events are free.
Sunbeau Farm- Brady Lake Rd - FREE PARKING Main Gate .4 mile W of Rt 59 - 41 09' 49" N --81 16' 45" W/ Handicaped & Passes .2 W of Rt 59 - 41 09' 42" N -- 81 16' 36" W >$5.00 admission per person 13 & over to Sunbeau. As with 95% of other balloon festivals, it is non-refundable. SAT-- Balloon Liftoff 5:30 pm (weather permitting)
Entertainment including live bands 4:00 pm on - food & craft booths.
Fireworks at dusk
SUN --Entertainment: 2009 info:Lintz's Portage County Idol contest Contestants by preregistration Antique Tractor Show - 2010 check back-- Sponsored by American Fireworks Tractor entry by invitation contact Jack DeYoung 330.671.1151
Antique Car Show this year - check back for info
Food, Craft Booths, - The Entertainment will be Lintz's Portage County Idol contest. - entries by preregistration.
50's 60' DANCE 2010 - Sat Feb 27 7 pm VFW. $8.00 admission (serious snacks included) Contests, door prizes, 50 -50 raffel. Cash bar. 21 & over please.
HALLOWEEN/FALL DANCE - 2010 October? 7p
LIGHTED CHRISTMAS PARADE 2010 Fri Nov26 - 7 pm - High School to Meridian. Santa at Mini-Mall after parade. All units must be lighted Contact Balloon A-Fair for application. In conjunction with MIDNIGHT MADNESS
