The All Ohio Balloon Festival is getting a special postmark from the U.S. Postal Service.
On Thursday, Aug. 8 through Saturday, Aug. 10, the Postal Service will be at the Balloon Festival at the Union County Airport to offer a special pictorial cancellation.
According to a release from the USPS, envelopes for 69 cents and postcards for 39 cents featuring the postmark will be available for purchase at the event. Customers may also bring envelopes or postcards to have postmarked as well.
As a community service, the USPS offers pictorial postmarks to commemorate local events celebrated in communities throughout the nation. People attending these local events may obtain the postmark in person at the temporary post office station established there.
Those who cannot attend the event but who wish to obtain the postmark may submit a mail order request. Pictorial postmarks are available only for the dates indicated, and requests must be postmarked no later than 30 days following the requested pictorial postmark date. All requests must include a stamped envelope or postcard bearing at least the minimum First-Class Mail postage. Items submitted for postmark may not include postage issued after the date of the requested postmark. Such items will be returned unserviced.
Customers wishing to obtain a postmark must add stamps to any envelope or postcard of their choice, address the envelope or postcard to themselves or others, insert a card of postcard thickness in envelopes for sturdiness, and tuck in the flap. Place the envelope or postcard in a larger envelope and address it to: Pictorial Postmarks, Marysville Post Office, 202 North Main Street, Marysville, Ohio 43040.
Customers can also send stamped envelopes and postcards without addresses for postmark, as long as they supply a larger envelope with adequate postage and their return address. After applying the pictorial postmark, the Postal Service will return the items (with or without addresses) under addressed protective cover.