Plans under way for 2014 Ohio Balloon Challenge

Nearly 40 hot air balloons are expected to fly in this year’s Ohio Challenge Hot Air Balloon Competition and Festival.

The local planning committee has been making preparations for the event that is scheduled for the weekend of July 11 at Smith Park/Middletown Regional Airport, according to Patrick Venturella, the event’s spokesman.

The event is being presented by Selection.com along with other sponsors, including the Journal-News.

He said the field of competition has been expanded to include more hot air balloons and that the pilots will be competing for the Ohio Challenge and the BFA Great Lakes Regional Championship.

In addition to the competition, there will be a festival at Smith Park that will feature skydiving demos by Team Fastrax, fireworks courtesy of Start Skydiving, a laser light show, evening balloon glows, live entertainment, a carnival, car show, and food and craft vendors.

Venturella said the 2014 event will include the Warrior Weekend to Remember that will honor active duty and veteran members of the U.S. Armed Forces who have been wounded or injured in combat or in training.

“Our committee has been hard at work to make this year’s Ohio Challenge another fun weekend with activities for everyone in the family. We’re in our 12th year and we continue to grow each year. But we are at the mercy of the weather and the winds.” – Paula Hale, event manager.

Last year, only one of the competitions were cancelled due to high winds, she said. Hale also said wind speed determines if hot air balloons will fly in a competition.

Also being planned are a golf outing on July 10 as well as a 5k run/walk on July 12 to help support the Warrior Weekend to Remember. In addition, the Warriors and their sponsors will be able to participate in a number of activities such as night bow fishing, tandem skydiving, balloon rides and a trip to Great American Ball Park.

The festival runs Friday and Saturday from 4 to 10:30 p.m. Walk-in admission is $4 for adults or $10 per vehicle, which includes parking, admission for all occupants and a free shuttle service. Children 12 and under are free. Special rates are available for buses and RVs.

On Saturday and Sunday of the event, the morning balloon competition flights take place between approximately 7 to 9 a.m. Admission to the festival site is free during the morning hours. The festival will end on the evening of July 12 and the balloon competition ends on the morning of July 13.

Last year about 75,000, mostly from Ohio, attended the festival, Venturella said.

Hale said the 2013 event was one of the most highly attended balloon festivals.

“It was a perfect storm,” she said. “Everything went perfectly, including the weather and the winds. We also had a 20 percent increase in attendance in 2013.”

Hale also said that the economic impact of last year’s festival was about $2 million for the Middletown area.

For more information about the 2014 Ohio Challenge Hot Air Balloon Festival visit their website at www.ohiochallenge.com.

via www.journal-news.com.