“It makes a positive impact not only economically,” said Patrick Venturella, publicist for the Ohio Challenge. “A lot volunteers are giving time out of their lives for the love of the event.”
The challenge, according to past events, has injected the local economy with couple of million dollars.
The Ohio Challenge’s activities as usually take place at Smith Park, which is on North Main Street. This weekend’s event is anticipated to feature more hot air balloons than before, and have its usual line up of live entertainment, arts and craft booths, and food.
Friday and Saturday festivities kick off at 4 p.m. and conclude at 10:30 p.m.
“For the city, it means togetherness,” said John Hart, owner of Team Fastrax and this year’s presenting sponsor Selection.com. “It’s an opportunity to show fellowship and be together, and that’s why we do it.”
On Friday, balloon pilots will begin the competition portion of the Ohio Challenge festival with a 7 p.m. launch from the park. The competition continues at 7 a.m. Saturday with a remote launch. Another launch from Smith Park is set for 7 p.m. Saturday. The competition ends Sunday morning with another 7 a.m. remote launch.
While the challenge is underway, visitors to Smith Park will be entertained with the balloon glows on Friday and Saturday evenings, have tethered and full balloon rides — as well as helicopter rides and biplane rides — and tandem skydives. Team Fastrax will perform over the park and land at the festival.
Additionally, the Skallywags will play Friday night at the festival and Stagger Lee will play Saturday night. There will also be a Laser-Pyro Musical on Friday and a fireworks display on Saturday.
New to the Ohio Challenge for 2014 is the Warrior Weekend where today 18 wounded military veterans are given hot air balloon rides. Over the weekend, they will participate (or attend of they cannot play) in a golf outing, 5K run/walk, and a celebration of their service at the festival. On Sunday, the group will attend a Cincinnati Reds game at Great American Ballpark in downtown Cincinnati.
Hart said if people are down and depressed about their lives, “they can find inspiration by what these men and women have done so we can have these kinds of celebrations.”
Venturella said it’s not only a good thing to honor these men and women, “but the right thing.”
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