Ravenna BALLOON A-FAIR Fall Hot Air Balloon Festival Rally in Northeast Ohio
Unofficial Balloon A-Fair page for Northeast Ohio's Premier Fall Festival of Color
Ravenna Balloon A-Fair is the official name; often seen as Balloon-A-Fair; AFair; Affair; and A Fair
The Ravenna Balloon A-Fair is the 2nd oldest Hot Air Balloon Festival in Ohio, having started in 1979. This is the 34th Balloon A-Fair. (Coschton is claming the oldest at 33 years) -- It appears Marysville is oldest, starting in 1975?--
3rd WEEKEND IN SEPTEMBER RAVENNA BALLOON
A-FAIR (Weekend
of the 3rd Saturday) P
O Box 454 Ravenna OH 44266 330.296.3247 www.ravennaballoonafair.com Also on FaceBook
One of the many great festival events in Portage County
Ohio Also see page: HotAirBalloonsbutton and Facebook group: Ohio Hot Air Balloon
Come for several days and check out the other North East Ohio attractions listed at end below!
Video 2006 of balloon launch go to www.youtube.comsearch for "Ravenna Balloon A-fair" 2007 go to www.myspace.com search for "Ravenna Balloon A-fair"
Balloon A-Fair - 2013 - Sept 19,21,22
The 2013 Grand Marshal
The 2013 Grand Marshal has been selected and is Ric Hughes, currently director of the Ravenna All-City Musical. The 2013 Grand Marshal Dinner is Wed April 17 6:30 pm at Ravenna Elks. Cost is $15 per person. Because of Caterer's requirement, resevrations must be received by Wed April 10. 330.296.FAIR The Grand Marshal is an individual who has contributed much to the community in non work related ways AND . Lives in Ravenna City or TWP . For 2014 please send a letter explaining in detail their many contributions to the community, no job related info will be considered, should be sent to the
Balloon A-Fair by Feb __ 2014
2013 Grand Parade theme is: Be One With The Clouds
Pin design contest entries are due March 15, 2013- Entries must be hand drawn and limited to four colors or shades of colors and contain Name and Year and Theme -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Like most festivals, the Ravenna Balloon A-Fair DOES NOT ALLOW PETS, BICYCLES, SKATEBOARDS DOWNTOWN OR SUNBEAU
FOLLOWING INFORMATION FOR THUR, FRI, SAT SUN IS BASED ON 2012 SCHEDULE
2013 Thur Sept 19 -CHILDREN'S PARADE Line up 5:30 pm at . Parade 6:30 pm. Theme: About 200 children participate in this brief parade. 2013 Fri Sept 20 - Morning- Kick off Breakfast - Advance paid reservations required. 2013 Sat, Sun, Sept. 21 & 22 DOWNTOWN - Rain or Shine SUNBEAU VALLEY FARM - Rain or Shine (balloons weather permmiting) AND THEWIDE OPEN SKIES – WEATHER PERMITTING No pets, bicycles, skateboards, roller blades, etc, Downtown or Sunbeau - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
DOWNTOWN RAVENNA
Thursday September 19, 2013 – 6:30 pm Children's Parade around 200 children with Walking Floats, Wagon Floats, Costumes, Pets, etc,- About 12-15 minutes - Ronald McDonald entertains afterward at the prize ceremony. Saturday Sept 21, 2010: Sat only Grand Parade 9:00 am- rain or shine - 100-130 units Craft, Food, Display BOOTHS till 5:00 pm BANDS & ENTERTAINMENT CHILDREN'S ENTERTAINMENT
Downtown events are free
SUNBEAU VALLEY FARM, 2 Miles W of downtown. FREE PARKING Gates on Brady Lake Road,(angles off) west of Rt 59 (W Main St) & Wall St $5.00 admission to Sunbeau- 13 & older. As with 95% of Balloon Festivals, there are NO REFUNDS MAIN GATE - 3100 Brady LakeRd - Natural wood split rail fence along road coming from West (Kent area) / past a row of houses coming from East. .4 mile W of Rt 59 - 41 09' 49" N - 81 16' 45"W / Handicap & Passes only--looks like main gate - Sunbeau Farm arch, white board fence turns to follow drive. -- .2mile W of Rt 59 - 41 09' 42 ' N -- 81 16' 36" W No pets, skateboards, roller blades, etc, bicycles Downtown or Sunbeau - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2013 SAT : Afternoon 2013 Gates open 4? pm Sat.- Food and Craft Booths - Entertainment Balloon launches Sat 5:30 pm –Wind & Weather permitting 23 balloons scheduled 2011 2013 Fireworks Sat evening - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - SUN Gates open 2012 - 10 am Sun
2012 Food, Craft Booths, 9am -/- Bands start afternoon - Sun at Sunbeau 2012 TRACTOR SHOW - TRACTOR SHOW - Starts 9:am 2012Balloon launches Sun 5:30 pm –Wind & Weather permitting - No pets, skateboards, roller blades, etc, bicycles Downtown or Sunbeau
Parade units are by pre-application, application must be submitted by the deadline date
CRAFT SHOW PEOPLE: Booth space for crafters is available for 2013 at a very reasonable price. Time periods:Saturday- downtown all day OR Sunbeau mid-afternoon to night. Because of time overlap you need 2 crews & 2 setups if you want to do both on Sat. Sunday - all day at Sunbeau (moring to 7pm).
Parade sponsored by , Ravenna Children's Activities by
Ravenna Balloon A-Fair P O Box 454 Ravenna OH 44266
Balloon A-Fair General Meetings: Usually 3rd Wednesday of the month at (New Site) ENGLISH PUB 320 E Main Ravenna Dinner 6pm--Meeting Only starts at 7pm. (4 months may be different date or place) Open to all interested persons. Call for details, time, and place confirmation.
Dinner optional & reservations not necessary - order from regular menu.
2013 KICKOFF DANCE 2013 Sat Feb 23 Ravenna Elks $10.00 admission. 7pm-Midnight Raffels every 1/2 hr, 50/50 drawing. contests. munchies. 18 & over.
CHRISTMAS PARADE : 2012 Sat Dec 1 7pm- Clinton St along Main St to Meridian St. Participation by application. All units must be lighted
NOTE : Balloon launches are DEPENDENT on the WEATHER--They can NOT lauch if winds are above 10 mph. FAA prohibits launch if storms are approaching within 60 miles- They festival people WANT TO LAUNCH but final control is up to the FAA Federal Aviation Administration. Refunds are not given at probably 95% of the festivals- they still have all the expenses.
You probably don't realize it, but a festival costs $30,000. to $100,000 or more!
Muncie Ind cancelled in (2009) after 15 years. They were rained out 2008 losing that
revenue and a major sponsor dropped out 2009. Counter at 2342 on Apr 2, 2010 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Come for several days and enjoy the other attractions North East Ohio has to offer. Canton, Pro Football Hall Of Fame; Kent - Kent State Fashion Museum featuring items from some of the countries major designers; Cleveland - Rock And Roll Hall of Fame,Art Museum; Warren - National Packard Museum, are some of the many high quality interesting attractions.
