Hot Air Balloon Festival: A summer staple for more than 40 years
COSHOCTON — For more than 40 years, the Coshocton Hot Air Balloon Festival has been a major tourist attraction and summer highlight.
This year's event is Thursday to Saturday at the Coshocton County Fairgrounds, 707 Kenilworth Ave. It will feature food, vendors, children's rides, live music and more with 19 hot air balloons taking to the skies, depending on weather.
Events start at 4 p.m. Thursday with tethered balloon rides for $20 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. and three balloons launching at 7 p.m. The money goes to the Frontier Power Company's Community Connections Fund.
Activities start at 11 a.m. Friday with an opening ceremony at 5 p.m. and a balloon launch at 6:45 p.m. The R&D Duo will perform at 7:15 p.m. and Night Glow is at 9:15 p.m. Hot air balloons on the infield of the grandstand area will light up in routines set to music.
Balloons will launch at 6:30 a.m. and 6:45 p.m. Saturday with tethered balloon rides offered from 7 to 8:30 a.m. Midway and vendors open at 11 a.m. COSI Science Live will have a stage show with demonstrations at 5:30 p.m. Saturday at the grandstand. The Connects 2 You COSI Van will have hands-on activities and more for youth from 1 to 4 p.m. near the information tent. The Shane Stephens Band plays at 7:15 p.m. and fireworks close out the day at 10 p.m.
Tethered balloon rides are one of the most popular attractions as visitors can go 20 to 50 feet in the air, in the Touchstone Energy Cooperative balloon.
Frontier Power has been the major sponsor of the event for 16 years. Kelly Kendall, manager of administration and office services, said Frontier Power liked that it was a free event and she knows their sponsorship is helping to keep it that way.
"It's unusual to see balloons like this. People can see balloons take off and not spend a penny," she said.
While it's a must see for locals, Kendall said they have many spectators come in from across Ohio and even out of state every year. Since balloons don't fly during the day, visitors are encouraged to check out what Coshocton has to offer.
"When we're out there, we have an information tent that Frontier Power employees man throughout the festival and we're always promoting going over to Roscoe (Village) or up to Amish country and all the places you can eat in the area. There's a lot to do," she said.
Each balloon has a sponsor along with other businesses and individuals who donate funds or volunteer their time to make the festival happen. Kendall said public support has always been strong.
"To have the local businesses be on board with this is just wonderful. It shows the community is supporting the festival and supporting the mission we have of keeping this a free event for the community and surrounding areas," Kendall said.
Parking is also free. Wristbands for rides are $15. For more information, go online to coshoctonhotairballoonfestival.com or the event's Facebook page.
Leonard Hayhurst is a community content coordinator and general news reporter for the Coshocton Tribune with more than 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: Hot Air Balloon Festival: A summer staple for more than 40 years
