Kidz City, which features a balloon artist, temporary tattoos and a jumping area, will return to the All Ohio Balloon Festival on Friday and Saturday from 4-8 p.m. Pictured above are children enjoying the bouncy houses at the 2018 festival held at the Union County Airport.
(File photo)
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The All Ohio Balloon Festival returns to the Union County Airport in Marysville this week. Hot air balloons will ascend and glow (weather permitting) and a variety of music will fill the air at the airport this Thursday through Saturday.
“This festival has always been about neighbors coming together to put on what has been a community staple for 47 years, attracting people from all over the Midwest,” said All Ohio Balloon Fest organizer Kevin Behrens.
He said it is “interesting to think that it has been going on longer than most businesses have been open in town.”
Gates open at 5 p.m. on Thursday with Gypsy Kyngs taking the stage, followed by rock band Night Ranger’s performance at 6 p.m. Then, headliner Bret Michaels of Poison will begin his set at 8 p.m.
On Friday, gates open at 4 p.m. The Shane Stephens Band will play a set at 4:30 p.m., followed by Ashley Best at 6 p.m. and Paulina Jayne at 7 p.m. Country singer-songwriter Niko Moon will take the stage at 8:30 p.m.
WCOL 92.3 radio station will broadcast live and announce Moon on Friday. The station will also broadcast live Friday morning at 6:30 a.m. to marry a couple in a hot air balloon.
Saturday’s entertainment features the British Invasion at 4 p.m., Jacked Up at 6 p.m. and The Groove at 8 p.m.
“It’s kind of crazy that tens of thousands of people want to hang out in little Marysville, Ohio for the weekend, but with the weather forecast the way it is and the lineup scheduled, there should be a crowd,” Behrens said.
He added that he received a call from “a huge Bret Michaels fan that lives in Sturgis, Michigan, that is driving here for the first time” and asked for more information about the concert Thursday night.
Balloons are scheduled to launch at 6 p.m. every day with balloon glows set for 9 p.m. each night. Helicopter, biplane and tethered balloon rides will be available for purchase, and those who have paid in advance for balloon rides will take to the air in the early evening. All balloon and flying events are weather permitting.
Kidz City, which features a balloon artist, temporary tattoos and a jumping area, will be available on both Friday and Saturday from 4-8 p.m.
As for the balloons, Darth Vader and Yoda will again pay their annual visit from Belgium. An elephant balloon named Peanut and a fish named Findley the Fish both from Fisher, Indiana, and an animated red heart balloon named TEaMO from Rapid City, South Dakota are joining this year for the first time. Other participants of different shapes and sizes will also be present.
Entrance and exit will be from the gate at 15000 Weaver Road all three days. Parking is $5. Handicap parking is available, and the festival is a wheelchair friendly event. The Clymer Road entrance of the festival is a pass gate only.
Every attendee needs a ticket to enter on Thursday night. Ticket sales at the gate are cash only. There will be an ATM onsite. On Friday and Saturday, admission for children 10 and under is free.
Attendees are advised to bring their own lawn chairs to watch the balloon launch and concerts. Coolers, firearms and dogs, except for service animals, are prohibited.
Facebook users can check for festival updates during the event.
The annual All Ohio Balloon Festival was established in 1975 and has evolved into a Midwest regional attraction, encouraging tourism to Marysville and Union County.
The net proceeds from the event are donated to a local nonprofit. This year, the event will support the Hope Center and the Marysville Uptown Theatre, which owns and operates The Avalon Theatre.
Individuals who want more information or to purchase tickets to this year’s All Ohio Balloon Festival may visit www.allohioballoonfest.com or the Marysville Journal-Tribune office, 207 N. Main St.