Cantons spectacular Balloon Classic ready to take flight for 30th year
By Dave Mast
July 20, 2016
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There are rooms with views, and then there are rooms with breathtaking views. During an upcoming hot air balloon launch in Canton the view from up high will be breathtaking for the 60 balloonists while the view from the ground will be inspirational as the hot air balloons take flight together, creating a stunning visual picture over Cantons skyline.
The 30th annual Balloon Classic/Jackson-Belden Music Fest will take to the skies, the inspirational event taking place Friday, Saturday and Sunday, July 29-31 with the balloon launches kicking off each of the three days at 4 p.m. from Kent State University at Stark/Stark State College.
There will be dozens of food and beverage vendors, musical entertainment, mobile tours and childrens activities at both the Balloon Classic and Jackson-Belden Music Fest areas.
With music in the air and food everywhere, it is a satisfying aura for the classic balloon launches where 60 colorful hot air balloons will fly the friendly skies of Stark County.
One of the publics most popular Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival events over the years has been the Balloon Classic.
Initiated in 1986 at the urging of Maury Sullivan, who currently serves as balloonmeister, and with the encouragement and help of his business partner Tom Schervish, who was the Festivals general vice-chairman at the time, the Balloon Fiesta, as it was originally called, has grown to levels well beyond those ever imagined possible during its formative years.
The Balloon Fiesta was extremely successful in its early years, attracting 25 pilots in its very first year. By 1988 the event had grown to 40 balloons and was renamed the Balloon Classic due to pressure brought on by the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta, which had trademarked the term Fiesta. By 1989 the Festivals steering committee recognized that the growth and popularity of the Balloon Classic might require a change in the timing of the event. Enshrinees, NFL team owners and guests heading down Market Avenue to the Enshrinees Civic Dinner on Friday evening were delayed by incredible traffic jams with thousands of cars and people streaming into Weis Park. In order to alleviate this traffic congestion and more evenly spread out the weeks activities, the Balloon Classic was moved to kickoff weekend in 1990.
Weis Park had now been rediscovered by Cantons populace. It was a hub of activity, and over the years the parks facilities were expanded to include additional tennis, volleyball and bocce ball courts. By 1991 the Balloon Classic was out of space to safely launch the hot air balloons from that area. Kent State University at Stark and Stark State College generously offered their combined facilities to house the event in 1991, and 42 balloons participated. The new facilities allowed for the event to grow, and in 1992 a total of 50 balloons raced for the championship.
The Balloon Luminary was an added feature to the event in 1993 and has proved to be a real crowd pleaser each year since. It is now known as the Night Glow. The beauty of this event has been captured many times throughout the years with entries in the festivals annual photo contest.
The Classic has only gone to higher heights since then.
While there will be plenty of typical colorful balloons, there will also be some unique characters filling the sky. Elvis will be rockin and rollin, animated characters Buzzy and the Pig will be ready to take flight, and Shroom with a View will take morels to new heights. That only touches the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the unique balloons that will showcase this years event.
As an added attraction the Jackson-Belden Chamber of Commerce will host a fantastic fireworks extravaganza Saturday evening at dusk. The schedule for the balloon events begins Friday, July 29 with launches set for 6:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m., plus a 9:30 p.m. Balloon Night Glow, where the balloons will be glowing brightly. Saturday, July 30 will have the launches again set for 6:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. with the spectacular fireworks display slated to begin at approximately 10 p.m. Sunday, July 31 will feature just one launch at 6:30 a.m.
Parking is available for $5 after 3 p.m. in the Kent State University at Stark/Stark State College lots. There is limited disabled parking available to those who present a disability parking permit.
Now in its 30th year, the balloon festival has become an instant hit with young and old, and Andrea Hartman, event manager for the Canton Chamber of Commerce, said the entertainment value of the entire weekend is incredible.
First of all, it is free, and for years people have come from all over and brought their lawn chairs and blankets and sat down to take it all in, said Hartman, referring to the serene way the balloons waft over the Canton skyline.
Its an incredibly unique event, and everyone seems to find an attraction to something in the show. Its just a very peaceful time.
