Ashland's largest FREE family event with something for everyone to enjoy!
Days
Hours
Minutes
Seconds
Building Community & Creating Memories
Attracting spectators from around the region for high flying fun, food & merchant vendors, live entertainment, activities for kids, balloon glows, and more!
0
K+
2024 attendance
0
Hot Air Balloons
0
Yrs
And counting!
0
Vendors
About Us
Celebrating 35 years!!
2025 is a big year. We’re celebrating 35 years of coloring the Ashland skies with hot air balloons and creating memories for everyone. Every year is unique, but we are planning some big things for our 35th celebration!
Our Sponsors
Did we mention it’s free? Our sponsors are responsible for the impact and the quality of our festival.
Thank you, sponsors! None of this is possible without you.
Our Festival
What to Expect
New here? Never been to Ashland BalloonFest? We would love for you to join us! Here’s what you can expect.
2025 BalloonFest
Our 2025 Schedule
Three days of fun! Our schedule is packed with excitement and things to do. Like us on Facebook for updates leading up to and during the event.
Events are subject to change. All hot air balloon activities are weather permitting and subject to delay or cancellation.
For other weekend activities, visit Ashland Area CVB www.exploreashlandohio.com
Handicap parking at Ashland University B lot with shuttle to the field
Thursday June 26th
- 2-4 PM Live Radio Remote by iHeart Radio
- 5-8 PM VIP Reception (VIP Tent) for all sponsors and pilots – tickets required.
- 4-6 PM Live Radio Remote by The River 104.5
- 4-8 PM Local Art Walk (Freer Field Barn)
- 4-9:30 PM Kids Fun Zone (Kid Zone) – Inflatables, balloon animals, face paint, and more!
- 4-10 PM Food Vendors (Concessions) – Many to choose from!
- 4-9 PM Inflatables (Kid Zone) –Managed by the Boy Scouts
- 4-9 PM Face Painting, Glitter Tattoos, and Mobile Stuffie Machine (Kid Zone) – with Whoopsie Daisy
- 4-9 PM Merchant Tents – Featuring local businesses & boutique vendors
- 4-9 PM Ashland Library Bookmobile – Includes collections of books, magazines, audio books, CDs, DVDs. Something for everyone!
- 5-9 PM PhilUP Balloon Artist (Kid Zone) – Balloon Artist / Balloon Twister philupballoons.com
- 5-9 PM Emily Raff – Live musical entertainment (Main Stage)
- 6:15 PM OPENING CEREMONIES (Main Stage) – Ashland Veteran’s Color Guard
- 6:30 PM Balloon Lift Off (Launch Field) – Enjoy the cold inflation process as pilots and crew prepare hot air balloons to take flight.
- 8:15 PM Balloon Glow Encounter (Launch Field) – Tickets for Reserved Premier Seating can be purchased online.
- 9:15 PM OhioHealth Balloon Glow (Launch Field) – Enjoy an interactive display as hot air balloons line the launch field and glow against the night sky choreographed to music.
Friday June 27th
- 6:30-8:30 AM Balloon Lift Off (Launch Field) – Some balloons will launch from Freer Field and some will attempt to fly over the field. Bring your chairs, coffee & blankets to Freer Field to watch!
- 11:30 AM -1:30 PM Food Trailer Friday (Concessions) – Food Trailers will be open for Lunch, free parking!
- 4-5 PM Kites! (Launch Field) – Come grab a kite and fly it on the field! Sponsored by Eva’s Treats
- 4-7 PM Kids BINGO and Balloon Coloring (VIP Tent) – kids can come color a balloon picture and play some BINGO with Grace Church
- 4-9 PM Helicopter Rides (Helicopter Zone) – $60 per person (cash or card), rides are first come, first serve
- 4-8 PM COSI on Wheels (Kid Zone) – come see live shows and participate in science activities in between
- 4-8 PM Local Art Walk (Freer Field Barn)
- 4-9:30 PM Kids Fun Zone (Kid Zone) – Inflatables, princesses, balloon animals, face paint, and more!
- 4-10 PM Food Vendors (Concessions) – Many to choose from!
- 4-9 PM Face Painting, Glitter Tattoos, and Mobile Stuffie Machine (Kid Zone) – with Whoopsie Daisy
- 4-9 PM Inflatables (Kid Zone) – Managed by the Boy Scouts
- 4-9 PM Merchant Tents – Featuring local businesses & boutique vendors
- 4-9 PM Ashland Library Bookmobile – Includes collections of books, magazines, audio books, CDs, DVDs. Something for everyone!
- 5-9 PM PhilUP Balloon Artist (Kid Zone) – Balloon Artist / Balloon Twister philupballoons.com
- 5-9 PM Rare Vintage 10 – Live musical entertainment (Main Stage)
- 6-9 PM Princesses – Anna and Elsa (Kid Zone) – Find your favorite character and take a picture!
- 6:30 PM Balloon Sponsor Lift Off (Launch Field) – Enjoy the cold inflation process as pilots & crew prepare hot air balloons to take sponsors & VIPs for a ride.
- 8:15 PM Balloon Glow Encounter (Launch Field) – Tickets for Reserved Premier Seating can be purchased online.
- 9:15 PM OhioHealth Balloon Glow (Launch Field) – Enjoy an interactive display as hot air balloons line the launch field and glow against the night sky choreographed to music.
Saturday June 28th
- 6:30-8:30 AM Balloon Lift Off (Launch Field) – Some balloons will launch from Freer Field and some will attempt to fly over the field. Bring your chairs, coffee & blankets to Freer Field to watch!
- 8-11 AM Ashland BalloonFest 5K (Freer Field)
- 8-12 PM Pancake Breakfast & Plane Fly-In at Ashland County Airport – enjoy pancakes and sausage with planes & skydivers. Donations accepted.
- 11-4 PM Great American Kites (Launch Field) – come watch huge kites fly, weather permitting
- 4-9 PM Helicopter Rides (Helicopter Zone) – $60 per person (cash or card), rides are first come, first serve
- 4-5 PM Pilot Meet & Greet – come meet the pilots and get signatures while learning more about hot air balloons!
- 4-7 PM Kids BINGO and Balloon Coloring (VIP Tent) – kids can come color a balloon picture and play some BINGO with Grace Church
- 4-8 PM Local Art Walk (Freer Field Barn)
- 4-8 PM COSI on Wheels (Kid Zone) – come see live shows and participate in science activities in between
- 4-9:30 PM Kids Fun Zone (Kid Zone) – Inflatables, princesses, balloon animals, face paint, and more!
- 4-10 PM Food Vendors (Concessions) – Many to choose from!
- 4-9 PM Face Painting, Glitter Tattoos, and Mobile Stuffie Machine (Kid Zone) – with Whoopsie Daisy
- 4-9 PM Inflatables (Kid Zone) – Managed by the Boy Scouts
- 4-9 PM Merchant Tents – Featuring local businesses & boutique vendors
- 4-9 PM Ashland Library Bookmobile – Includes collections of books, magazines, audio books, CDs, DVDs. Something for everyone!
- 5-9 PM PhilUP Balloon Artist (Kid Zone) – Balloon Artist / Balloon Twister philupballoons.com
- 5-9 PM Tom’s Kitchen Table – Live musical entertainment (Main Stage)
- 6-9 PM Princesses – Moana and Snow White (Kid Zone) – Find your favorite character and take a picture!
- 6:30 PM Balloon Lift Off (Launch Field) – Enjoy the cold inflation process as pilots and crew prepare hot air balloons to take flight.
- 8:15 PM Balloon Glow Encounter (Launch Field) – Tickets for Reserved Premier Seating can be purchased online.
- 9:15 PM OhioHealth Memorial Balloon Glow (Launch Field) – Enjoy an interactive display as hot air balloons line the launch field and glow against the night sky choreographed to music.
Sunday June 29th
- 6:30-8:30 AM Balloon Lift Off (Launch Field) – Some balloons will launch from Freer Field and some will attempt to fly over the field. Bring your chairs, coffee & blankets to Freer field to watch!
Latest News
Stay updated with our latest insights, tips, and news on our Facebook page.
