Great Midwest Balloon Fest: Insider Tips
The First Annual Great Midwest Balloon Fest is coming to Kansas City this weekend and KC Parent Magazine is a marquee sponsor! On Saturday and Sunday, you may visit the Kids Zone with FREE activities for children and visit the KC Parent tent where we're giving away 5000 Goodie Bags filled with toys and prizes AND KC Parent is sponsoring exclusive giveaways including VIP Tickets to Veggie Tales LIVE in November and Yo Gabba Gabba! LIVE in November!
The 1st Annual Overland Park Great Midwest Balloon Fest will launch September 17-19, 2010. You will love this family-friendly event for a thrilling weekend of spectacular hot air balloons, non-stop activities, delicious food, crafts, music, Kids Korner, and live entertainment. You’ll see balloon ascensions and magical balloon glows (from 8-9pm Friday and Saturday). Read the full Great Midwest Balloon Fest Event Guide here.
Balloon Fest FAQ:
- Balloon Festivals combine the outdoors, family fun, beautiful sights and the spirit of competition. The inaugural OP Great Midwest Balloon Fest is no different. Located in scenic South Johnson County, the OP Great Midwest Balloon Fest welcomes visitors of all ages.
- Come early to watch the balloons ascend shorty after sunrise or before sunset, or stay late to stroll through the field and enjoy the balloon glows first-hand. In between, sample a variety of food, visit the expansive Kids Zone, listen to music, and watch the balloon competitions. The 36 balloonists will be competing for a prizes in games like "Hare and Hounds," where the "hare" drops a target cloth, and the "hounds" attempt to drop a small bean bag in the center of the cloth. Closest to the center wins.
- Admission is Free & Parking is $5. Concessions and Artist vendors will be selling food and goods, please plan on bringing cash for these vendors, as many of them will be working on a cash only basis.
- Don't forget your Camera! The balloons are beautiful, and the evening balloon glows are spectacular!
- Strollers and wheelchairs are welcome, but please note the event is being held on a farmed field and the terrain is uneven. Be careful as you move around the event grounds. Wheelchairs or those with special needs can be dropped off the entrance just north of 167th and Antioch
- Weather and event info will be updated on Twitter.
- Safety Tips: Guests are encouraged to mingle with the balloons between competitions. Civil air patrol will be monitoring the field and letting guests in and out of the balloon area. It is important for guests to watch out for ropes and allow the balloonists and crews to work on and around their balloons safely. The balloons' burners can be loud, so prepare your kids. Parents are responsible for watching their children closely.
- This event is a fund-raiser for the following charities: American Stroke Foundation, Kansas City Hospice & Palliative Care, and Boys and Girls Club of Kansas City.
- What is the best time to see the balloons? Balloons launch at 5:30 p.m. on Fri and Sat - a spectacular sight! They also launch shortly after 7:00 a.m. on Sat and Sun. Balloon glows are at 8:00 p.m. on Fri and Sat- amazing! During the times the balloons aren't launching or glowing, see the balloons by looking up (they will be flying, after all!), or get closer to the balloons when they are safely on the ground.
- You may want to bring blankets and lawn chairs for seating.
- Outside food is permitted but coolers are not.
- Absolutely no smoking.
FREE Activities Just for Kids:
Your kids will love all the FREE Family Fun just for them including a great Kids Zone open to the public on Saturday and Sunday. For complete information, check out the Great Midwest Balloon Fest Kids Page.
- Inflatables Carousel Moonwalk
- Dual Pass Rush
- Basketball Game
- Zero Gravity
- Freebies from KCParent.com!
- Interactive Wii van
- Hairspray Painting
- Face Painting
- Cable Jewelry Making
- Roadrunner Mascot
- Marble Painting Art
- Doug Zubenel and his high powered telescope
For more information, visit www.opballoonfest.org