5 Hot Air Balloon Festivals Around Cincinnati That Will Light Up Your Summer
By Andrea Limke|Published June 14, 2018
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Andrea Limke
Author
A Cincinnati native who has lived in Kentucky for over 10 years, Andrea's heart belongs both in the Queen City and the Bluegrass State. After earning an education degree and working in that field for a number of years, Andrea began to pursue her passion for writing over 6 years ago. Since then she has written for a number of print and online publications, as well as published a children's book.
We can all agree that there is just something magical about hot air balloons. To see them go from a pile on the ground to magnificent floating structures is a sight to behold, and the Cincinnati area celebrates these beautiful giants with some incredible festivals throughout this season. Some of these gatherings are right in our backyard, while others are just a short drive away, but it’s easy to see why these hot air balloon festivals around Cincinnati will light up your summer.
1. LaRosa's Balloon Glow at Coney Island Amusement Park
LaRosa's Balloon Glow is an annual tradition in Cincinnati that takes place on July 3rd at Coney Island Amusement Park. You can spend the entire day at the park, enjoying the classic rides and swimming and playing at Sunlite Water Adventure, then stick around for the Balloon Glow. There's live music, special events, and an epic Rozzi's fireworks display to cap off the perfect summer day in Cincinnati.
For more information on the Balloon Glow, visit its website here.
The Ohio Challenge will take place July 20-21, 2018 in Middletown and is unique in that it includes an actual hot air balloon race. These massive beauties will take to the sky and race to win the coveted Ohio Challenge Trophy and a bid to attend a national competition. In addition to the race, The Ohio Challenge is an all-weekend affair with balloon glows both evenings, live concerts, a festival, vendors, and fireworks.
Learn more about The Ohio Challenge on its website here.
The All Ohio Balloon Festival may be a bit further from Cincinnati, but it's definitely worth it! With just a two-hour drive to the Union County Airport in Marysville, you can experience a weekend of balloon fun from August 9-11, 2018. The unique balloons are seen from the ground, floating in the sky, and glowing at night, and you can also catch exciting national acts, plenty of fun for the kids, food vendors, and many more activities.
Learn more about the All Ohio Balloon Festival on its website here.
Hosted by The Dragonfly Foundation of Cincinnati, the Rock & Roll Chalk Art & Hot Air Balloon Fest is a great way to support a worthy cause in our city. This annual all-day event is family-friendly and will take place at the RE/MAX location on Union Centre Blvd. on August 25, 2018. The RE/MAX hot air balloon will be there for tethered rides, as well as impressive chalk drawings, live music, food trucks, and more.
For more information, check out The Dragonfly Foundation's events page here.
The Spoonbread Festival is another regional event that is definitely worth the drive to attend. It takes place in Berea, Kentucky and takes just under two hours to reach by car. This lively event is always held the 3rd full weekend in September, so this year that's September 21-23, 2018. The vibrant town comes to life even more with festive activities all weekend long, including an incredible hot air balloon glow. They also offer tethered rides throughout the weekend, so make plans now to round out your hot air balloon festival-filled year with this delightful event.
For more information on the Spoonbread Festival, visit its website here.
Cincinnati is such a fun place to be in the summer and these five hot air balloon festivals are just some of the reasons why. Do you make it an annual tradition to attend these nearby festivals? Which one is your favorite? Any we missed? Let us know in the comments!
For more summer fun in Cincy, check out our previous article featuring some of the area’s best water slides to help you cool off!
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