News

July 20, 2010

$3.8 MILLION ECONOMIC IMPACT FROM  HOT AIR BALLOON EVENT

Attendance totaled an estimated 59,652  at the 8th Annual MidFirst Ohio Challenge held over the July 16-18, 2010 weekend.  Due to extreme temperatures and high humidity, the total attendance was down 12% from the 2009 figures of 67,825 people watching the hot air balloon launches, Team Fastrax skydivers and other on-site activities at Smith Park/Middletown Regional Airport in downtown Middletown.

Surveys of guests on site revealed that 42% were from the immediate area, 12% came from other states and 17% drove more than an hour to get to the festival.

While not all figures are available yet, the indication is that an increasing number of people get their information about the event from the Internet (25%) and Newspaper 16%.  Many families make it a traditional summer outing (33%) and word of mouth is still a very popular way to spread the word (22%).

Using a conservative multiplier, it is estimated that the event caused a  $3.8 million economic impact – including not only what guests spend on site, but gasoline, restaurants, hotels, retail purchases, taxes paid, cost to put on the event and supplies vendors purchased for booths.

One, often overlooked, benefit is the addition to the treasuries of the 13 non-profit organizations who provide services and/or offer food for sale on site.

Organizers are pleased with the numbers and will use survey results to help plan the next year’s event.  The 9th annual MidFirst Ohio Challenge hot air balloon festival will be July 15-16-17, 2011.

Lost and Found items from the 2010 event will be held at the Chamber of Commerce, 1500 Central Avenue.

July 18, 2010

TROUTMAN WINS MIDFIRST OHIO CHALLENGE

Louisville KY hot air balloon pilot David Troutman, flying the Celtic Cross balloon, won the MidFirst Ohio Challenge 2010 trophy in Middletown, OH on Sunday, July 18, 2010.  Placing second was Henry Rosenbaum from Mechanicsville VA, flying the American Football balloon.  Placing third was Mike Emick from Akron OH, flying Second Wind.  Emich also placed third in the 2009 MidFirst Ohio Challenge.

The highest ranking pilot from the Middletown area was Sean Askren in the Atrium Medical Center balloon who won 5th place.

Due to weather conditions, only one of the three scheduled competitive flights could take to the air.  The winner was decided on which balloonist could choose a take off point and fly to a designated target on the ground to drop a weighted streamer nearest the center of the “X.” Hot air balloons can fly only early morning and early evening and only when wind speeds are less than 12 miles per hour. Their steering is determined by heating the air inside the balloon to go up or letting it cool to go down to find a wind current blowing the direction they want to go.

The MidFirst Ohio Challenge is a sanctioned event where pilots earn points toward their national standing and the right to participate in the national championships each year.

Also at the awards brunch held on Sunday, long-time Middletown hot air balloonist James Wannemacher was announced as the winner of the first Spirit of the Challenge award for his long years of promoting hot air ballooning, his involvement in bringing ballooning to Middletown, his involvement in the U.S. National Hot Air Balloon Championships held in Middletown in 1992, 1993 and 1994, and the first seven years of the MidFirst Ohio Challenge as a committee member and 2006 champion.

July 10, 2010

EVEN MORE ACTIVITIES AT MIDFIRST OHIO CHALLENGE

A special VIP area will be available for those who wish to watch the balloon activities from a comfortable spot with special amenities.
The Manchester Inn will co-host the special viewing section which will serve specialty beers and appetizers to those paying the $20 entry fee.  Three sessions will be available: Friday, July 16-8-10 pm (Friday Fiesta with Mexican foods); Saturday, July 17 – 4-6 pm (Aloha Luau with Hawaiian foods); and Saturday, July 17, 8-10 pm (Bhangra Fest serving Indian foods).  Each session coincides with the balloon launch or glow for that date.

Another special activity at this year’s MidFirst Ohio Challenge will be the Miami University Middletown Kite Fly.  Saturday 2-4 pm kites will be available for those who want to participate in the “ Miami Thunder Hawk Flyover.”  Kites are designed with hot air balloons, race cars and bright, colorful hawks.

The MidFirst Ohio Challenge event times are:
Friday, July 16, 4 to 10:00 pm  
Saturday, July 17, 1 to 10 pm with full festival
Event admission is $8 per vehicle for parking, shuttle and admission for all occupants OR $3 adult walk-in. Kids are free.
Morning Flights on Saturday and Sunday morning 7 am – free admission/parking
Festival ends after Sunday morning flight.

For more information, call 513-705-1770 (current and on-site number) email info@ohiochallenge.com.

July 10, 2010

EDUCATORS TAKE THE BIG LEAP FOR LEARNING

Four top educators will Leap for Learning on Friday, July 16 about 11 am at Middletown Regional Airport, Middletown, Ohio.

Dr Mike Pratt, the new Regional Dean for Miami University in Middletown and Hamilton; Greg Rasmussen, new Superintendent of Middletown City Schools; John Sauter Vice-President of Middletown Board of Education; and Chris Passarge, Business Director at Lakota Schools will take the leap in tandem skydive jumps with Team Fastrax.

Each year Team Fastrax holds a themed tandem jump to kick off the MidFirst Ohio Challenge Hot Air Balloon Festival at which they perform several times.

In prior years, they have done tandem jumps with Grandmas in support of US troops and jumps with wounded vets.

The public is invited to watch the jumps at the airport. Enter off RunWay near Frisch’s.

The MidFirst Ohio Challenge event times are:
Friday, July 16, 4 to 10:00 pm  
Saturday, July 17, 1 to 10 pm with full festival
Event admission is $8 per vehicle for parking, shuttle and admission for all occupants  OR $3 adult walk-in. Kids are free.
Morning Flights on Saturday and Sunday morning 7 am – free admission/parking
Festival ends after Sunday morning flight.

July 6, 2010

BEST ROUTES TO THE MIDFIRST OHIO CHALLENGE

Organizers of the MidFirst Ohio Challenge suggest to those planning to attend the event on July 16-18, 2010, to “take the path less traveled.”

With many construction projects underway in the City of Middletown and surrounding areas, some of the usual access routes will prove difficult.

The recommended route from I-75, Exit 32 is to follow SR122 west past Towne Mall, veer to the right on Grand Avenue and then turn right on Breiel Blvd.  Follow Breiel to its end at SR73, near the Great Miami River.  Turn left on SR73 and follow that route to SR4/Germantown Road, at the Shell Station/McDonald’s corner. Turn right on Germantown Rd and then left (just past Frisch’s) onto Run Way at the airport entrance.  Those using a GPS device may find the Frisch’s address at 1800 Germantown Rd, the easiest reference point.

From the West, take SR 122 across the bridge then left on Carmody Blvd to Germantown Rd.  Right  on Germantown to the airport entrance.

From the South, enter Middletown via SR4/Verity Parkway, turn left at Germantown/SR4 and then left into the airport.

Event organizers remind guests that the Tytus Avenue entrance is for pedestrian traffic only.  No vehicles enter the park from that street.

Entrance/admission prices are:  Parking at the airport entrance is $8 per vehicle which includes free shuttle and free admission for everyone in the vehicle.  Handicap shuttle buses will be available for wheelchairs and families with strollers.

Pedestrian access at Tytus is $3 per adult, with children 12 and under free with adult.

Gates at the MidFirst Ohio Challenge will be open Friday, July 16, 4-10pm; Saturday morning 7-11 for balloon flight, tethered balloon rides and pancake breakfast; Saturday 1-10 pm for full festival; Sunday morning 7-11 for balloon flight and tethered balloon rides only.  Festival ends after Sunday morning flight.

June 30, 2010

MUSICAL GROUPS SLATED FOR BALLOON EVENT

Top regional music groups will entertain at the MidFirst Ohio Challenge Hot Air Balloon Festival, July 16 and 17.

The Cleavers will take the stage 6:30 to 10 pm on Friday night.  The four piece group will entertain with classic rock music during the pre and post balloon flight period, the balloon glow and Team Fastrax skydives.

Saturday, Stagger Lee, a country rock group will entertain on the outdoor stage 4-7 pm. Founder and lead singer/guitarist Dave Stanley started the band in 1988 to produce not only great rock music but many vocal numbers.

Classic rock and dance band After Midnight will play 7:30-10 pm on Saturday, bringing 70s music to the stage. This group has played a wide variety of venues – from Taste of Cincinnati to the Circleville Pumpkin Festival.

All musical concerts are free with admission and are crowd favorites in the Southwestern Ohio area.

MidFirst Ohio Challenge is in its 8th year as a top hot air balloon festival.  This year, 45 hot air balloons will take to the skies in competition events then return for after-dark balloon glows on Friday and Saturday.  Festival foods, arts & crafts, a carnival, corn hole tourney and much more will add to the entertainment value.  Festival hours are Friday 4-10 pm, Saturday morning 7-11 for balloon flight and pancake breakfast, Saturday 1-10 pm with full festival and Sunday morning 7-10 for balloon flight.  The festival ends after the Sunday morning balloon flight.

May 3, 2010

SPECIAL SHAPE BALLOONS COMING TO MIDFIRST OHIO CHALLENGE IN JULY

The Purple People Eater and Buzzy, special shape hot air balloons will be flying the skies over Middletown the weekend of July 16-18, 2010.   The two very large flying creatures carry on the tradition of unusual balloons at the 8th Annual MidFirst Ohio Challenge hot air balloon festival.

The Purple People Eater, one of the most popular special shape balloons in the US, stands 80 feet tall and weighs in at 450 pounds. The ears are 18 feet tall. The giant purple creature took three months to build and will be flown by pilot John Cavin.

Buzzy is a bit two-faced. One side of the balloon is a happy face and the other side seems a bit grouchy. ”Born” in Sao Paulo, Brazil in 2006,  he is 85 feet tall, weighs 540 pounds and holds 105,000 cubic feet of air or the equivalent of 105,000 basketballs.  Keeping him company are his two best friends Sally Mander and Max the Mouse.  Sally is 67 feet long and Max is 26 ½ feet tall. Pilot Shane Robinson has been flying balloons for 20 years and has spent more than 2,000 hours piloting balloons over 40 states and six countries.  He also flies corporate advertising balloons.

Both balloons will be among the 40 balloons scheduled to take flight four times over the weekend. Between the early morning and early evening balloon flights there will be several free outdoor concerts, Team Fastrax skydivers, classic car show, arts & crafts and food vendors, an Indian Village, carnival rides and much more.  Admission is $3 per adult walk-in (children 12 and under are free) OR $8 parking with free shuttle and free admission for all vehicle occupants.

Event email is info@ohiochallenge.com, 513-705-1770

January 29, 2010

MIDFIRST CREDIT UNION CONTINUES SPONSORSHIP FOR BALLOON EVENT

The July 16,17,18, 2010 MidFirst Ohio Challenge Hot Air Balloon Festival will once again welcome MidFirst Credit Union as the primary sponsor—for the eighth time.

“The MidFirst Ohio Challenge is a signature event we get behind every year. MidFirst has become synonymous with the balloon event. We look forward to it every year,” said MidFirst Credit Union Senior Vice President Timothy Lee.

Past Chairman David Pearce said, “MidFirst Ohio Challenge committee members appreciate the continuing support from this outstanding Middletown-based business. It is the solid support of our sponsors that maintains the high quality of this event. We are very fortunate to have MidFirst Credit Union as our lead sponsor. Sponsorship dollars bring positive exposure and on-site benefits to the businesses and keep the admission price low enough to be available to families on tight budgets.

The event has become one of the most highly respected family entertainments in southwestern Ohio.  Each year, the third weekend in July, 30 hot air balloon pilots bring their craft to Smith Park/Middletown Regional Airport to compete in a sanctioned event.  Between the early morning and early evening balloon flights, Team Fastrax performs skydiving demonstrations throughout the weekend.  Concerts on the outdoor stage, balloon glows, a classic car show, festival foods, arts and crafts, a carnival and many other experiences await the guests which usually number over 60,000 for the weekend.