10 OUTSTANDING Ohio Hot Air Balloon Festivals to Attend
What’s more magnificent to watch than a hot air balloon launch? Not much. If you haven’t watched one, it should be added to your bucket list immediately. You don’t even have to drive very far to enjoy Ohio hot air balloon festivals.
Pack up the family, and make plans to enjoy an Ohio balloon festival this year. Keep in mind that no matter which balloon festival you choose, all balloon-related activities are weather-dependent.
All Ohio Balloon Festival
The All Ohio Balloon Festival is the longest-running hot air balloon festival and has been thrilling visitors since 1975. It takes place at Union County Airport in Marysville Ohio for three days in August. People visit from all over the country to enjoy big-name entertainment and amazing hot air balloon events.
Hot air balloon rides Ohio aren’t always the easiest to find, but the All Ohio Balloon Festival is one place to go. You can book your ride online. The height requirement to fly is 48 inches. If you aren’t quite ready to float through the sky, you can opt for a tethered flight.
In addition to the balloon rides, helicopter and biplane rides are available. Entertainment is also provided for every member of the family. Kidz City opens Friday and Saturday, and kids 10 and under can enjoy bounce houses, slides, games, a balloon artist, and other entertainment.
Vendors sell crafts, beer, and food starting at 3 p.m. each day. In the evenings, the balloon launch takes place at 6 p.m. Then, the balloon glow and laser show light up the sky after 9 p.m. Bring your own lawn chairs to relax and enjoy the live entertainment and balloon shows.
While you’re in the area, consider checking out all the great things to do in Dublin Ohio too!
Ashland BalloonFest
For more than 30 years in late June, balloonists have been providing an amazing display for delighted viewers at Freer Field in Ashland Ohio. This three-day festival is nonstop fun, and there’s food for every member of the family.
Many of the activities are kid-based, so there are no bored children at this Ohio balloon festival. For instance, the Kids Zone has pony rides, inflatables, and entertainment geared toward the kids.
Also, you can stroll through the merchants’ tents, and stop by the Ashland Library bookmobile. An unforgettable experience, the food and drink vendors serve tasty creations between the balloon events alongside live entertainment.
The evenings conclude with a night glow, which is an impressive sight. All of the gorgeous inflated balloons light up against the night sky. On Saturday evening, the festival concludes with a final balloon glow with the addition of music — a perfect ending to an unforgettable experience.
Champaign County Balloon Fest
For two days in September, the skies over Urbana Ohio are awash with color as the Champaign Country Balloon Fest comes to Grimes Field Airport. Bring lawn chairs so that you can be comfy while you enjoy the show.
Food vendors and a beer garden are available during the event. You might even want to save your appetite for the pizza and chicken wing eating contests. For kids, games are available and the Champaign Aviation Museum is open.
The hot air balloon grounds open at 4 p.m., and the balloon launch takes place at 6 p.m. with the glow taking place at 7:30 p.m. It’s one of the best Ohio hot air balloon festivals!
Coshocton Hot Air Balloon Festival
The Coshocton Hot Air Balloon Festival has been a three-day June fixture for more than 40 years. It’s a very popular Ohio balloon festival for many reasons, but one important reason is that there are no admission or parking fees.
Everyone can come to the Coshocton County Fairgrounds to watch the balloons flying and see the evening balloon glow. Balloons launch early in the morning and in the early evening. Bring your own chair, and find a spot to watch. Tethered balloon rides are usually available.
No balloon activity happens at midday, which is the best time to visit the vendors and the midway. Food, carnival rides, live entertainment, and children’s activities are offered too. The festival concludes with a fireworks display on Saturday evening.
Defiance Hot Air Balloon Festival
For one day in August, the sky above Defiance County Airport comes alive with the sight of hot air balloons. The day begins with an early morning launch that’s followed by a community breakfast and a 5K walk/run. Bring your own lawn chairs to enjoy the sight of balloons filling the sky at dawn.
The day includes live music, a children’s zone with inflatables, a petting zoo, pony rides, a beer garden, and lots of merchants offering goods and food. Tethered balloon rides are also available to give visitors their first taste of ballooning. Balloons fly again in the early evening, followed by the balloon glow.
Flag City BalloonFest
The Flag City BalloonFest fills the skies over Findlay Ohio with bright colors and stunning balloons. The three-day event takes place in Emory Adams Park every August. This is a jam-packed weekend with balloon rides available — both tethered and free-flying — as well as helicopter rides.
Live entertainment is provided on Friday and Saturday, alongside a craft show. Lots of food vendors and a beer garden are open with a wide variety of things to eat and drink.
The Kids Fair offers inflatables and carnival games, but that’s not all the entertainment for the kids. They can visit the petting zoo and go on pony rides. Unique among Ohio hot air balloon festivals, you can take pictures with costumed characters.
The early evening brings the mass balloon launch, followed by the hot air balloon illumination and fireworks. Sunday is only a half-day affair with an early morning balloon launch and rides, followed by awards.
Football Hall of Fame Balloon Classic
Enjoy a three-day event at Kent State University Stark Campus in North Canton Ohio. The event kicks off at 6 a.m. on Friday with a mass balloon launch, which is always an impressive sight.
Other activities begin at 4 p.m. and include loads of food vendors, live entertainment, children’s activities, a mass launch around 6 p.m., and loads more. The evening wraps up on Friday with the balloon glow.
On Saturday there’s a fireworks display after the balloon glow. The weekend concludes with a 6 a.m. balloon launch on Sunday.
If you’re visiting North Canton for the weekend, consider taking a detour to Zoar Ohio, a historical village!
Mastropietro Winery Balloon Fest
This winery has a lovely location in Berlin Center Ohio. Although its Hot Air Balloon Festival is a one-day event in August, it’s one of the best Ohio hot air balloon festivals.
This family-friendly event features live entertainment, food, soft drinks and beer, children’s activities, and wine for sale. Balloon rides are available and, weather permitting, the balloons can launch and land. Bring your own chairs because seating is limited, and this is a popular event.
Ravenna Balloon A-Fair
The Ravenna Balloon A-Fair is a big deal in Ravenna and has been for more than 40 years. It takes all year to plan, and this three-day affair brings the whole town together, plus people from all over Portage County and the state.
As one of the fall Ohio hot air balloon festivals, it takes place on the third weekend of September in multiple locations, including downtown Ravenna and Sunbeau Valley Farm.
The A-Fair kicks off on Thursday night with a children’s parade. Friday morning features the community breakfast, and Sunbeau Valley Farm hosts Friday evening with a concert, carnival and helicopter rides, and concessions.
Saturday is back to downtown for the grand parade and street fair with food, crafts, and entertainment. The balloon launch is back at the farm at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. It’s a jam-packed weekend for the entire family to enjoy, and you can start collecting the A-Fair pin this year.
The Ohio Challenge Balloon Fest
Every July, the skies over Middletown Ohio are filled with colorful balloons during The Ohio Challenge Balloon Fest. Smith Park/Middletown Regional Airport hosts the event. Thousands come to enjoy not only the hot air balloon flight events but also the carnival-like atmosphere.
Additionally, visitors enjoy a sky diving demonstration, live music, classic car show, helicopter rides, and biplane rides. Food booth offerings, crafts vendors, and carnival rides are available too.
The balloon launch takes place on Friday and Saturday, as well as the balloon glow, laser show, and fireworks. If you’ve always wanted to take a hot air balloon ride, this is your chance. A high-flying ride or a tethered ride — the choice is yours.
During your visit, you could enjoy more things to do in Dayton Ohio.
Find a Hot Air Balloon Festival Ohio Hosts Near You
As you plan activities and events to attend this year, choose one of these Ohio hot air balloon festivals for an exciting weekend getaway that the entire family will enjoy. No matter where you live or visit in Ohio, a balloon festival is within a reasonable drive and offers plenty of family fun.
If you’re looking for more events during the summer, head to one of the 24 county fairs in Ohio!