Up, up and away! Flag City BalloonFest returns

All eyes will be on the skies when Flag City BalloonFest returns this month after being canceled last year amid the pandemic. The event will be held Aug. 13-15 at Emory Adams Park, 1827 S. Blanchard St. Admission is free. BalloonFest committee member Kellie Bibler said more than 40 balloons are expected to fill the skies around Findlay and Hancock County this year, noting that "the pilots are very excited to be back." Findlay's very first balloon festival was held in August 2000 with 25 air balloon crews participating. "We've been lucky enough that we get a lot of great support from the community. We have a lot of sponsors that help us make the event free to the public," Bibler said. Hot air balloon rides will be available all three days, weather permitting. The price is $250 per person. Tethered balloon rides sponsored by Reineke Honda will be available for $20, and helicopter rides will be given for $35 per person. Of the 40-plus balloons scheduled to visit, some will feature special shapes including a dragon, an astronaut, a crab, a rubber ducky and more. "We'll have some of the ones back that you're used to seeing," said Bibler. "The RE/MAX balloon, RE/MAX is bringing that back, and the Visit Findlay balloon will be here. And Independence, which is the American flag, and Freedom Flyer, which looks like the Declaration of Independence on it, some of those guys will be back." The pilots will be coming from all over the country, she noted. "It's a pretty tight-knit community, so they keep in touch with each other and they know which festivals are fun for them and are balloon and pilot friendly. And that's one of things we've always prided ourselves on is being like that," said Bibler. A hot air balloon illumination sponsored by McLane will be held at 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, weather permitting. A glow encounter is also available. Tickets are $50 and offer four people access to the glow encounter experience for one hour prior to the balloon glow, an on-site parking pass, souvenirs and four beverages. Bibler said there will be a special paid parking area at the north end of Emory Adams toward Sixth Street this year. The cost is $10 per vehicle. "We still have handicapped spots available, and all of the rest of the areas are at no charge. But we're going to have that one little area be paid. It's good for as long as they are there that day," she said. Musical entertainment begins at 5:30 p.m. Friday with a performance by Evil Jones, followed by Foreplay at 7:30 p.m. and Wicked Mourning at 10 p.m. The Cherry Bombs will appear at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, followed by Electrik Circus at 10 p.m. Fireworks are planned for Friday night. Visitors are asked not to bring pets to the fest. Drones are also prohibited. "Our whole goal, our mission is to foster community pride, growth and prosperity and help benefit some charitable organizations and give back to the community," said Bibler. "We're a nonprofit. We invite other nonprofits to be a part of this event, and that's our way of supporting them. We're all about being a community event and promoting our community." Additional information can be found at flagcityballoonfest.com and on Facebook and Instagram. The full event schedule includes: Friday, Aug. 13 • 7 a.m.: Media flight. • 3 p.m. to midnight: Entertainment district and beer tent open, presented by the Miracle League of Findlay. • 4-8 p.m.: Kids fair. • 4-9 p.m.: Nonprofit Showcase event tent. • 4-11 p.m.: Food vendors open. • 4:30-8:30 p.m.: Let Your Dreams Take Flight craft show. • 5-9 p.m.: Jungle Island Petting Zoo and pony rides, helicopter rides. • 5-10 p.m.: Veterans tent. • 5:30-7 p.m.: Evil Jones, main stage. • 5:45 p.m.: Hot air balloon rides. • 6-9 p.m.: Tethered balloon rides. • 6:30 p.m.: Balloon flight, mass launch from Emory Adams. • 7 p.m.: Opening ceremony. • 7:30-9 p.m.: Foreplay, main stage. • 9 p.m.: Hot air balloon illumination. • 9:30 p.m.: Fireworks, sponsored by Hancock-Wood Electric Cooperative (will move to Saturday if necessary due to weather). • 10-11:30 p.m.: Wicked Mourning, main stage. Saturday • 6:15 a.m.: Hot air balloon rides. • 7 a.m.: Balloon flight, fly into Emory Adams Park for competitive task. • 8 a.m. to noon: Entertainment district and beer tent open. • 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.: Helicopter rides. • 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.: Kids fair. • 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.: Let Your Dreams Take Flight craft show. • 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.: Jungle Island Petting Zoo and pony rides. • 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.: Nonprofit Showcase event tent. • 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.: Food vendors open. • 1-4 p.m.: Touch a vehicle. • 3 p.m.: K9 demonstration. • 4-5 p.m.: Balloon pilot autograph session. • 5:45 p.m.: Hot air balloon rides. • 6 p.m.: Welcome ceremony and scholarship presentation. • 6-9 p.m.: Tethered balloon rides. • 6:30 p.m.: Balloon Flight, fly out of Emory Adams Park. • 7:30-9 p.m.: Cherry Bombs, main stage. • 9 p.m.: Hot air balloon illumination. • 10 p.m. to 12:01 a.m.: Electrik Circus, main stage. Sunday • 6:15 a.m.: Hot air balloon rides. • 7 a.m.: Balloon flight, fly into Emory Adams Park for competitive task. • 11 a.m.: Awards banquet. All times are approximate and subject to change.