Annual Ashland Balloonfest offers to lift spirits
The Balloon Glow Encounter will take place each night of the three-day Ashland Balloonfest coming up June 27-29. The warming glow of the balloons against the night sky is one of many attractions at this annual event.
A drive to Ashland will provide an experience people have enjoyed for nearly three decades on June 27-29 when the annual Ashland Balloonfest takes place at Freer Field, located at the corner of state Route 60, Center Street and Morgan Avenue.
Now in its 29th year, the upcoming Ashland Balloonfest is an experience that promises plenty of kids’ games, live music and food with the hot air balloons.
It will start on Thursday, June 27 from 4-9:30 p.m. when the Kids Fun Zone will be open for business, inviting youngsters to participate in pony rides, laser tag, large inflatable games and more.
Food vendors will be open from 4-10 p.m. Kids also are invited to challenge the bumper bubbles, where they will roar downhill in giant bubbles and roll, flip and bounce. Also located in the Kid Zone will be a host of favorite children’s story and movie princesses available for photos.
On the north side of Freer Field will be a merchants’ tent, featuring items like home-improvement options, educational material, and all kinds of crafts and items available for purchase. It will be open from 4-9 p.m.
The band, SOBOS (Some Of the Best Old Songs), will bring a classic rock sound to the stage from 5-9 p.m. They will offer plenty of favorites from the 1970s and 1980s.
At 6:15 p.m. the official opening ceremonies will take place on the main stage while at 8:15 p.m. the Balloon Glow will have hot air balloons filling the night sky.
A Hot Air Balloon Glow is when a balloon is inflated at dusk and is kept on the ground. As the sky gets darker, the pilot operates the Glow Burner, which makes the balloon light up like a light bulb. The purchase of one ticket includes entry for four people into the Launch Field with limited seating, four Pepsi products, parking for one vehicle and one official Balloonfest souvenir. Balloon Glow is weather permitting. Tickets cost $50.
Tickets for that event may be purchased online.
Friday, June 28 will feature a Fun Flight from 7-9 a.m. The public is invited to bring their lawn chairs and watch as tons of hot air balloons waft over the morning sky high above Freer Field. The merchants’ tent will again be open from 4-9 p.m. while Ohio Mobile Gaming trailer will offer kids plenty of activities from 4-8 p.m. The Kids Fun Zone will once again provide ample entertainment for the youngsters from 4:30-9 p.m., and the princesses will return.
From 6-9 p.m. on the main stage, the band, The Usual Suspects, will bring its energy to stage to present tunes from the 1970s through the 1990s. The bumper bubbles will return from 6-8 p.m., on-air personalities from 93.7-FM will offer some contests for prizes and fans can meet their favorite Super Q personalities. The night will end again with the Balloon Glow Encounter and Balloon Glow, beginning at 8:15 p.m.
The activities on Saturday, June 29 will begin with the Donley Ford Lincoln of Ashland Balloon Competition at Launch Field, where hot air balloonists will compete for top prizes, and the public is invited to watch.
The annual Ashland Balloonfest 5k will take place at Community Stadium from 8-11 a.m., and from 8 a.m. to noon, there will be a pancake breakfast and fly-in at the Ashland County Airport. The cornhole tournament registration will begin at 2 p.m. with a 3 p.m. kick-off to the tournament. The cost is $20 per team. It is a double-elimination tournament with all participating teams guaranteed to play at least three games.
The evening activities will repeat from the first two nights with live music from 5-9 p.m. featuring The Roadhouse Band, a “Swiss army knife” of local bands that has something for everyone.
For more on the events featured, visit www.ashlandohioballoonfest.com or www.visitashlandohio.com.