Coshocton Hot Air Balloon delighting visitors for more than 40 years

Leonard L. Hayhurst, Coshocton Tribune
·4 min read
The Touchstone Energy Cooperatives hot air balloon will give tethered rides to visitors at the Coshocton Hot Air Balloon Festival at the Coshocton County Fairgrounds. The balloon will go up about 100 feet for a minute or so with passengers before coming back down.
The Touchstone Energy Cooperatives hot air balloon will give tethered rides to visitors at the Coshocton Hot Air Balloon Festival at the Coshocton County Fairgrounds. The balloon will go up about 100 feet for a minute or so with passengers before coming back down.

COSHOCTON — For more than 40 years, the Coshocton Hot Air Balloon Festival has been a major tourist attraction and local summer highlight.

The festival returned last year after missing a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Tethered balloon rides weren't offered in 2021, but are back this year. The event will take place from June 9 to 11, at the Coshocton County Fairgrounds and include food, vendors and 20 hot air balloons taking to the skies, depending on weather.

Zee-Nith with pilot Alex Jonard takes to the skies at a previous Coshocton Hot Air Balloon Festival at the Coshocton County Fairgrounds. Whether balloons fly is very weather dependent.
Zee-Nith with pilot Alex Jonard takes to the skies at a previous Coshocton Hot Air Balloon Festival at the Coshocton County Fairgrounds. Whether balloons fly is very weather dependent.

Midway and vendors open at 4 p.m. June 9, with crowning of the festival queen at 5:30 p.m. and tethered balloon rides from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. A three-balloon launch will be at 7 p.m.

Midway and vendors open at 11 a.m. June 10, with opening ceremonies at 5 p.m. and introduction of the festival queen and court and visiting royalty at 5:15 p.m. A balloon launch will be 6:45 p.m. with Balloon Night Glow at 9:15 p.m. R&D Duo will perform at 7:15 p.m.

A balloon launch is at 6:30 a.m. June 11 with the midway and vendors starting at 11 a.m. The Whiz Bang Science Show will be at 3, 4 and 5 p.m. Victorious KayBirds will perform at 7:15 p.m. There will be another balloon launch at 6:45 p.m. and a golf ball drop at 7 p.m. Fireworks end the festival at 10 p.m.

Night Glow, a popular attraction during the Coshocton Hot Air Balloon Festival, draws spectators from far and wide. Balloonists use flames to light up their balloons to music for viewers on Saturday evening of the festival.
Night Glow, a popular attraction during the Coshocton Hot Air Balloon Festival, draws spectators from far and wide. Balloonists use flames to light up their balloons to music for viewers on Saturday evening of the festival.

The Frontier Power Company has been a major sponsor of the festival for 15 years. Kelly Kendall, manager of administration and office services, said Frontier's sponsorship keeps parking, entertainment and admission free.

"It's a way for us to give back to the community. By being the major sponsor that takes a lot of the monetary responsibility off the (festival) committee," she said.

The balloons and fireworks are the main attractions, Kendall said, but the tethered balloon rides are a major highlight she knows many missed last year. Money from the rides go back to the Frontier Power Community Connection Fund, which helps local non-profit organizations. Cost is $20. The Touchstone Energy Cooperative balloon gives the rides.

"People come from all over. We've had people come from West Virginia and just make a special effort to come to our festival to take a balloon ride," Kendall said. "Even though they don't get to sail away, they're just absolutely thrilled to experience being up in a hot air balloon and see what it's actually like to be up there."

Ken and Patty Cramer have been members of the festival committee for many years and have been affiliated with the event for all but its first year. Ken has also been a pilot for 22 years.

The balloon drop was new last year and Patty said it was a success. With weather permitting, 180 golf balls will be dropped from the Touchstone Energy balloon. The ball that lands closest to the target wins for the person who has that numbered ball. Balls are $10 each. Proceeds will be split between the winner and the Community Connection Fund.

Also returning from last year is the science show. New is Dick McCune strolling the midway doing magic. Patty said they want to offer free activities for families who might not be able to afford the rides. She said all the sponsors, not just Frontier, are instrumental in keeping the festival free.

"I don't go to another balloon event where there isn't either an admission charge or parking fee. It's not the norm. They obviously have to generate income and we're very fortunate we've able to generate income from our sponsors," Patty said. "For the 40 years it's been going on, that's been a strong commitment of the committee for the event to remain free."

The strong community support is one reason pilots like to attend, Patty added. She said they've had good cooperation with property owners for landing balloons over the years.

"Last year, we had a number who landed in town, because there wasn't much wind. People went out and blocked traffic in the streets so they could get the balloons down and deflated," Patty said. "The community really does embrace the festival. The community response has always been amazing."

For more information, go to coshoctonhotairballoonfestival.com or call 740-622-4877.

Leonard Hayhurst is a community content coordinator and general news reporter for the Coshocton Tribune with close to 15 years of local journalism experience and multiple awards from the Ohio Associated Press. He can be reached at 740-295-3417 or llhayhur@coshoctontribune.com. Follow him on Twitter at @llhayhurst.

This article originally appeared on Coshocton Tribune: Coshocton Hot Air Balloon delighting visitors for more than 40 years