The All-Ohio Balloon Festival is an annual hot air balloon showcase held at the Union County Airport in Marysville, Ohio. In addition to hot air balloons, the event hosts rides in helicopters, airplanes, and balloons; live music; and food in addition to various activities for kids. Other attractions include skydivers and pets for adoption.
History
The festival is the longest-running balloon festival in the United States. The event has been held at the Union County Airport since 1975. It will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2025. The festival has since grown to attract 30,000 people per year.
The festival is a non-profit event that benefits different charities every year.
Attractions
The event attracts balloons from around the country and world. Balloons usually come from as far as Florida and California. The 2023 event featured Darth Vader and Yoda balloons from Belgium.
The event takes place over a three-day period each summer. Each day features a Hot Air Balloon Launch and a Nightly Balloon Glow.
The event often hosts displays of historic aircraft such as B-25 bombers.
The airport has hosted a number of notable performers, including The Beach Boys, The Wallflowers, and ZZ Top. The Beach Boys were scheduled to play the 2020 festival before it was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but they returned to perform during the 2023 event.
The event also often features a 5k run.
References
- "All Ohio Balloon Fest getting back to full speed – Marysville Journal-Tribune". www.marysvillejt.com. Retrieved 2024-01-18.
- ^ "All Ohio Balloon Fest in Marysville feat. The Beach Boys and The Wallflowers - Columbus on the Cheap". Columbus on the Cheap. 2023-06-15. Retrieved 2024-01-18.
- ^ "All Ohio Balloon Fest- Vivian and Violet". Vivian & Violet. 2015-08-27. Retrieved 2024-01-18.
- "4 Summer Activities You Can Drive to Near Marysville, OH". Retrieved 2024-01-18.
- "All Ohio Balloon Fest: Hot air balloon festival returns this weekend". WLWT. 2021-08-12. Retrieved 2024-01-18.
- ^ "About All Ohio Balloon Festival". Ohio.org. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
- ^ "All Ohio Balloon Festival returns, benefits local nonprofits". spectrumnews1.com. Retrieved 2024-01-18.
- ^ Dutton, Melissa Kossler. "Event Spotlight: All Ohio Balloon Festival". Columbus Monthly. Retrieved 2024-01-18.
- Kwiatkowski, David. "High-flyin' fun: All Ohio Balloon Festival takes flight in Marysville". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved 2024-01-18.
- ^ "Ohio Balloon Festival 2023". wwwallohioballoonfestcom.ticketspice.com. Retrieved 2024-01-18.
- White, Chris (2021-08-12). "All Ohio Balloon Fest happening in Marysville this weekend". WSYX. Retrieved 2024-01-18.
- "The Beach Boys to headline All Ohio Balloon Fest in Marysville on Aug. 10". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved 2024-01-18.
- "Beach Boys will be playing The All-Ohio Balloon Festival". Urbana Daily Citizen. 2023-03-22. Retrieved 2024-01-18.
- "The Beach Boys to headline All Ohio Balloon Fest in Marysville on Aug. 10". Yahoo News. 2023-03-20. Retrieved 2024-01-18.
- "All Ohio Balloon Fest 5k". All Ohio Balloon Fest 5k. Retrieved 2024-01-18.
- McLaughlin, Jack (2021-08-04). "This central Ohio festival features hot air balloon and helicopter rides". 614NOW. Retrieved 2024-01-18.