Up, up and away: Hot air balloons returning

COSHOCTON – The Coshocton Hot Air Balloon Festival returns to the County Fairgrounds on Thursday through Saturday for the 34th annual edition.

The three-day festival features musical entertainment, crafts, rides, food, fireworks and a flea market as well as scheduled visits by 21 balloonists from six states.

The festival attracts visitors from all across Ohio and surrounding states, said Kelly Kendall, manager of administration for Frontier Power, which has now sponsored the event for nine years.

Coshocton's festival is the longest continuously running hot air balloon festival in the state, Kendall said. The festival offers something for all members of the family. Admission and parking are free.

A Hot Air Balloon Festival Queen Contest, golf ball drop and grand finale fireworks set to music are all new this year, Kendall said.

The traditional Night Glow, in which pilots inflate their tethered balloons to create the look of Chinese lanterns, should start at 9 p.m. June 5, weather permitting.

Hot air balloon launches are scheduled for 6:30 p.m. June 5 as well as 6:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. June 6, weather permitting.

"Conditions are not conducive to flying during the day," Kendall said.

No balloons will fly Thursday, and flights are not available to the public because of liability concerns. Only sponsors who pay $500 are eligible for flights, she said.

"The balloonists always like coming here," Kendall said. "They like the area."

For the most part, area landowners are welcoming to the balloonists and their chase crews, she said.

"You can't necessarily plan where you are going to land," she said.

This year's musical entertainment at the grandstand includes: the Pleasant Valley Boys at 7:30 p.m. Thursday; the Jason Pendola Band at 6:15 p.m. Friday and the British Invasion at 7:30 p.m. Friday; and Timothy Paul at 6:15 p.m. Saturday; and Natalie Stoval and the Drive at 8 p.m. Saturday.

jwilliams6@gannett.com

740-295-3417

Twitter: @Joeadvocate

If You Go

What: 34th annual Coshocton Hot Air Balloon Festival

When: Thursday through Saturday

Where: Coshocton County Fairgrounds, 707 Kenilworth Ave., Coshocton

Cost: Admission and parking are free.

Festival Schedule

Thursday

4 p.m.: Midway opens

7 p.m.: Queen contest

7 p.m.: Golf ball drop to benefit the 4H Endowment

7:30 p.m.: The Pleasant Valley Boys

Friday

11 a.m.: Midway opens

6 p.m.: Opening ceremony

6:15-7:15 p.m.: The Jason Pendola Band

6:30-8 p.m.: Balloon launch, weather permitting

9 p.m.: Night Glow, weather permitting

Saturday

6:30-9 a.m.: Balloon launch, weather permitting

11 a.m.: Midway opens

11 a.m.-2 p.m.: Safety Saturday

1 p.m.: Kiddie Tractor Pull

2:30-3:30 p.m.: Miss Jody's Dance Studio

6 p.m.: National anthem

6-8 p.m.: Balloon launch, weather permitting

6:15-7:15 p.m.: Timothy Paul

8-9:15 p.m.: Natalie Stovall and the Drive

9:30 p.m.: Fireworks set to music

Source: Coshocton Visitors Bureau, www.visitcoshocton.com