Union County Commissioner Chris Schmenk, who has volunteered at the All Ohio Balloon Festival in the past, is pictured at the 2019 festival assisting a hot air balloon crew. The 2022 festival will take place Thursday, Aug. 11, through Saturday, Aug. 13.
(File photo)
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A weekend of concerts and colorful balloons at the 2022 All Ohio Balloon Festival will benefit Union County’s growing art community.
For the first time, proceeds from the annual event will benefit the Marysville Uptown Theatre, a nonprofit organization that owns and operates The Avalon Theatre, and the Hope Center.
“We here at The Avalon are excited to help with the balloon festival,” said Daniel Rodriguez Hijo, director of operations and the volunteer coordinator at the local theatre.
Through the partnership, the Marysville Uptown Theatre will provide volunteers to assist during the festival.
“It’ll do a lot,” Hijo said. “It will allow us to do two things.”
He explained that the donation will help the Marysville Uptown Theatre “be able to host and provide arts and events in our space” as well as enable the nonprofit to support other organizations in the county.
“The mission is to be able to provide a space, a home, for the arts as well as to provide entertainment that we host for the community,” Hijo said. “It’s really about fostering the arts and creating the arts as well.”
The Avalon Theatre will be hosting its grand opening ribbon cutting ceremony on Thursday at 11 a.m. This Friday, the theatre will host a grand opening showing of “The Greatest Showman” at 7 p.m., which is free to the public.
Hijo said the staff will announce the whole season of events that night. For more information about events at The Avalon Theatre, visit theavalontheatre.org.
Hijo said he is looking forward to “working with the volunteers” to make the balloon launch next weekend “a great show.”
“It’s not an event I have ever been to personally,” he said.
Hijo, with assistance from Becky Bolt of the Hope Center, is gathering 50 volunteers for each night of the festival from Aug. 11-13 from 5-10 p.m. “to get the balloons inflated and flying off,” Hijo said. Ten people will be assigned to each balloon to help with the lift off, he explained.
Those interested in volunteering at the All Ohio Balloon Festival can sign up by visiting the Marysville Journal-Tribune and All Ohio Balloon Festival Facebook pages and clicking on the links to SignUpGenius posted. The deadline to sign-up is Sunday.
“We want to have as many volunteers as possible,” Hijo said.
Volunteers must be at least 12 years old and able to lift 30 pounds. They are advised to wear comfortable shoes, sunscreen, and windbreakers. Work gloves are also helfpul. Volunteers will receive free parking for Clymer Road, a meal and tickets to the festival. It is the responsibility of volunteers to pick up their parking passes the day of their shift or the week of the festival at the Marysville Journal-Tribune office, 207 N. Main St.
Volunteers are asked to check in with Marie Woodford upon arrival at the main gate and she will point them in the direction of the volunteer tent.
Individuals who want more information or to purchase tickets to this year’s All Ohio Balloon Festival, which will be held Aug. 11-13, may visit www.allohioballoonfest.com.