Balloon Festival offers entertainment for all ages

| June 6, 2013

NightCOSHOCTON – The 32nd edition of the Coshocton Hot Air Balloon Festival is this weekend, Friday, June 7 to Sunday, June 9. Sponsored by the Frontier Power Company, the Coshocton event is the longest continuously-running hot air balloon festival in Ohio. Balloon launches and fly-ins will take place at the Coshocton County Fairgrounds around 6:30 p.m. Friday, 6:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Saturday, and 6:30 a.m. Sunday, weather permitting.  Admission, parking, musical entertainment at the Grandstand, and the fireworks show are free.

Fun begins Friday at 4 p.m. when the midway and food vendors open along with the craft and gift sales. The Wayfarers begin the grandstand entertainment at 6 p.m., followed at 7:30 p.m. by Friday’s featured performers, The Railers from Nashville. Playing mandolin, violin, concertina, acoustic guitar, and percussion, The Railers will leave you wanting more of their unforgettable show. The traditional Coshocton Hot Air Balloon Festival fireworks show will cap the evening at 9:30 p.m.

Saturday, the midway, food, craft and gift vendors open at 11 a.m. Safety Saturday will be going on from 1 – 4 p.m. Grandstand entertainment begins at 1 p.m. with Miss Jennifer’s Dance Studio performances while Jody’s Dance takes the stage at 2:30 p.m. Granville resident Ashley Kingsmore is the first evening show at 6 p.m. The Retrovox Band’s blend of all your favorite hits of the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s will bring back the memories at 7:30 p.m. You won’t want to miss the Balloon Glow at 9:20 p.m. The colorful balloons take on an entirely new personality when illuminated by the golden flames of their burners.

For the seventh year, Frontier Power Company is the major sponsor of the Balloon Festival. Kelly Kendall, Manager of Administration and Office Services at Frontier Power, is happy that Frontier Power is able to sponsor the Festival again this year.

“We feel it is a way to give back to our community and the surrounding areas,” she said. “We like the idea that it is a free event and we want to keep it that way- free admission, free parking, free entertainment and most importantly, free hot air balloon watching. Frontier Propane supplies the propane for the balloon pilot’s tanks which they need to fly. Frontier Power and Frontier Propane employees volunteer their time to work in the information tent, crew for balloon pilots, fill propane tanks, and do anything else that may be needed for the entire weekend. We look forward to the Hot Air Balloon Festival every year and are happy to be in a position to help support this free event.”

“It takes a lot of effort, time and money to put on the Festival,” said Tom Roahrig, committee chairman. “I’d like to say a special welcome and thanks to the Coshocton Foundation for helping us out. The Coshocton Foundation is sponsoring the entertainment this year. It’s timely assistance from the Coshocton Foundation and special friends of the Festival like Advanced Spinal Care and Ember Complete Care that make it all possible each year.

“This year’s balloon sponsors are Frontier Power, Frontier Propane, Doug Marmie /State Farm Insurance, Coshocton Visitors Bureau, SanCasT Inc., R. Dale Smith, Super 8 Motel/Roscoe Motor Inn, Central Ohio Technical College Coshocton Campus, Coshocton Village Inn and Suites, Jones Metal/Jones Zylon, Edward Jones Investments/Mike Remington, AAA Ohio Auto Club, Walmart Super Center, Clow Water Systems, Decosky Ford, Central Realty and Roscoe Village/Monticello III.

“There are dozens of Coshocton County residents who volunteer hundreds of hours to make the Hot Air Balloon Festival a reality each June. It’s impossible to name them all. We start as soon as this year’s Festival is over planning for next year. Finally, I’d like to acknowledge the Coshocton County Chamber of Commerce which has helped immensely with the Festival over the years.

“Pilots and crews and thousands of spectators look forward to coming to Coshocton Hot Air Balloon Festival each year because they like the area, the geography, and the friendly folks who let the balloons land on their property. Hot air balloons put a smile on everybody’s face. It’s a fun, free, family event” Roahrig said, “You won’t want to miss it.”

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Category: Arts & Entertainment

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