Ohio Hot Air Balloon Festivals and Events.
If you have never been to a hot air balloon festival, you really should add it to your bucket list. The colorful balloons against the sky can be quite breathtaking. Many of the festivals, also offer tethered and balloon rides for those who would like to see Ohio from a different vantage point.
HOT AIR BALLOON EVENTS AND FESTIVALS
MAY
GEAUGA COUNTY – (NE OH)
BLOSSOM TIME FESTIVAL
Dates: May 23-26, 2019
Location: Riverside Park, Chagrin Falls, OH
www.cvjc.org
Blossom Time is the Jaycees’ signature event, taking place every Memorial Day Weekend in the village of Chagrin Falls.
JUNE
COSHOCTON COUNTY – (NE OH)
COSHOCTON BALLOON FESTIVAL
Dates: June 6-8, 2019
Location: Coshocton County Fairgrounds, Coshocton
Free Admission and parking.
www.coshoctonhotairballoonfestival.com
Coshocton County has one of the longest running balloon festivals in Ohio with over 20 hot air balloons filling the skies. Musical entertainment, carnival rides, festive foods, crafters and an Antique Flea Market are just a few of the items lined up at this annual festival.
ASHLAND COUNTY – (NE OH)
ASHLAND BALLOONFEST
Dates: June 27-29, 2019
Location: Freer Field, SR 60 (Center St.) & Morgan Ave. Ashland
ashlandballoonfest.com
JULY
HAMILTON COUNTY – (SW OH)
LAROSA’S BALLOON GLOW
Date: July 3, 2019
Location: Coney Island, 6201 Kellogg Avenue
Cincinnati, OH 45230
Phone: 513.232.8230 | coneyislandpark.com
BUTLER COUNTY – (SW OH)
MIDFIRST OHIO CHALLENGE
Dates: July 19-20, 2019
Location: Butler County Warbirds
2301 Wedekind Dr, Middletown, OH 45042
ohiochallenge.com
Walk-in admission is $5 per adult, 13 and up. 12 and under are free.
Parking is $15 w/ free shuttle and admission for all in the car.
Parking Shuttle from the Airport Entrance
STARK COUNTY – (NE OH)
PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME BALLOON CLASSIC & FIREWORKS
Dates: July 26-28, 2019 (tentative)
Time: 4PM
Location: Kent State University at Stark/Stark State College, Canton, OH
profootballhoffestival.com/balloon-classic-invitational
The Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival Balloon Classic & Fireworks annually attracts balloonists from throughout the United States. It has become one of the most popular of all Festival events with more than 130,000 spectators viewing the balloon activities over the weekend of July 27, 28, and 29.
AUGUST
DEFIANCE COUNTY – (NW OH)
DEFIANCE COUNTY HOT AIR BALLOON FESTIVAL
Date: August 3, 2019
Time: 6:30 AM – 10PM
Location: 20399 Airport Road, Defiance, OH 43512
defianceballoonfest.com
MEDINA COUNTY – (NE OH)
BALLOONS OVER WADSWORTH
Date: TBA
Time:
Location: Wadsworth Municipal Airport
840 Airport Drive, Wadsworth, OH 44281
Facebook event page.
“Parking is available at the airport. You are welcome to bring your own seating and blankets. Wadsworth Community Radio will be live on location with music and interviews with pilots. Come early and enjoy the food and fun!”
Balloon Training – Four-day ground school course
Date: April 27-28, 2019, May 4-5, 2019 – Exam May 11, 2019
Time: 8AM-3PM
Location: Wadsworth Municipal Airport
840 Airport Drive, Wadsworth, OH 44281
For more info click here.
UNION COUNTY – (CENTRAL OH)
ALL OHIO BALLOON FESTIVAL
Dates: August 8-10, 2019
Location: Union County Airport, 760 Clymer Rd., Marysville
allohioballoonfest.com
- Parking is $5 (exact change appreciated)
- General admission – Weekend Pass for Friday & Saturday $10, kids 10 and under are FREE!
- Ticket sales at the gate are CASH ONLY. An ATM is available on-site.
HANCOCK COUNTY – (NW OH)
FLAG CITY BALLOONFEST
Dates: August 9-11, 2019
Location: Emory Adams Park
1861 South Blanchard Street, Findlay, OH 45840, Findlay, Ohio 45840
flagcityballoonfest.com
MAHONING COUNTY – (NE-OH)
MASTROPIETRO WINERY BALLOON FEST
Date: August 18, 2019
Location: 14558 Ellsworth Road, Berlin Center, OH 44401
330.547.2151
mastropietrowinery.com
This is a kids friendly event! This is by far our most popular and busiest event of the summer! This is the only event where there is a fee charged). Activities for kids in the afternoon and balloons launch in late afternoon pending FAA approval.
For area visitor information
visit Mahoning County Convention & Visitors Bureau
SEPTEMBER
PORTAGE COUNTY – (NE OH)
RAVENNA BALLOON A-FAIR
Dates: September 21-22, 2019
Location: Downtown Ravenna and SUNBEAU Valley Farm, Ravenna, Ohio
ravennaballoonafair.com
For area visitor information visit
Central Portage VCB.
STARK COUNTY – (NE OH)
MAIZE VALLEY’S HOT AIR BALLOON LIFT OFF
Dates: September TBA
Location: Maize Valley
6193 Edison St NE, Hartville, Ohio 44632
maizevalley.com
For more Ohio winery information or events visit discoverohiowines.com.
HOT AIR BALLOON RIDES
LAKE COUNTY – (NE OH)
Want to ride in a balloon? Below we have listed information about where you can sign up for hot air balloon rides in Ohio. Before booking any rides, please review and/or discuss all rules with each vendor and verify insurance.
SUMMER TETHERED HOT AIR BALLOON RIDES
Dates: May 22, June 5, June 19, July 3, July 17, July 31, August 14, August 28, 2019
Location: Debonne Vineyards
7840 Doty Road, Madison, Ohio 44057
Phone: 440-466-3485
debonne.com
WEATHER PERMITTING ~ RESERVATIONS STRONGLY RECOMMENDED
Rides are 6:30-8:30 p.m. Bring your family and friends out for this unique experience. Check out the winery property from a bird’s eye view (50-70 feet approx.) as the hot air balloon lifts you up into the sky for a tethered ride.
For area visitor information visit Lake County Visitors Bureau
HOT AIR BALLOON VENDORS
NE OHIO
America’s Unknown Destinations – Kent
330.673.4180
Soaring Sports – Cleveland
855.266.7627
Fun Makers Inc – Tallmadge
330.633.3288
NW OHIO
Ventures Aloft Hot Air Balloon Rides – Norwalk
419.677.8400
CENTRAL OHIO
Balloon Masters Inc. – Columbus
614-870-2539
Mid-Ohio Balloon Adventures, LLC – Mt. Gilead
419.560.7535
SE OHIO
Gentle Breeze Hot Air Balloons – Cinncinnatti & Dayton
513.932.9007
Banner photo credit: Ashland County CVB.
Article: Diane Rock
Rocky Hill | MyOhioFun.com
Editor’s note: Part of this story ran in 2018. The dates and additional events have been updated for the 2019 season. Any use of the above article or images without prior permission, will be in violation of copyright laws.
