Tethered balloon rides offered at balloon festival
COSHOCTON – Have you ever wondered what it’s like to ride in a hot air balloon? For the third consecutive year, the Frontier Power Touchstone Energy balloon will offer tethered balloon rides to the general public. Rides are $20 which is donated to the Frontier Power Community Connection Fund.
“The money goes right back into the community,” said Kelly Kendall, manager of administration and office services at Frontier Power. “We give out the money to different civic organizations who apply online. We’ve given to the little theatre, the hog barn at the fairgrounds, the chicken barn, and all kinds of different organizations.”
Kendall said the tethered balloon rides are popular each year.
“You wouldn’t believe how many people contact us and want a balloon ride,” she said. “This allows people to get the idea and the feel of going up in a balloon.”
Kendall said there is no age limit, but people need to be able to see over the basket. Parents are not allowed to carry small children onto tethered balloon rides for safety reasons.
The tethered balloon rides will be canceled if the balloons decide not to fly. Tethered balloon rides will be from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 7 and from 6:30 – 8:30 a.m. on Sunday, June 9, weather permitting.
Other highlights of the event will be the crowning of the queen at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, and a balloon launch, weather permitting, at 7 p.m. Friday’s highlights include the opening ceremony at 6 p.m., a performance by The Moonlyterz, a classic rock band out of Dover, at 7:15 p.m., and the balloon night glow at 9:15 p.m. Saturday begins with a balloon launch at 6:30 a.m. and tethered balloon rides from 6:30 – 8:30 a.m., weather permitting. Other highlights include COSI on Wheels from 2 – 5 p.m., Safety Saturday from 2 – 5 p.m., a balloon launch at 6:45 p.m., weather permitting, the Jason Pendola Band at 7:15 p.m., and fireworks at 9:45 p.m.
“Our committee works year-round on this,” said Kendall. “As soon as we’re done with the festival, we start planning the next year. We meet a couple of weeks later while the festival is still fresh in our minds.”
For more information about the balloon festival, see the balloon festival program insert in this week’s paper.
Category: Arts & Entertainment
