Two bird-shaped balloons to fly over city

HOW TO GO

WHAT: 2014 Ohio Challenge Hot Air Balloon Festival

WHEN: 4 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. July 11-12; 7-9 a.m. July 12-13

WHERE: Smith Park, downtown Middletown

COST: Walk-in admission is $4 per adult (12 and under are free) or $10 per vehicle, which includes parking, admission for all occupants and free shuttle service. Admission is free during the morning hours. The festival will conclude July 12 and the balloon competition will conclude on July 13.

MORE INFO: www.ohiochallenge.com

Those who attend this year’s Ohio Challenge Hot Air Balloon Festival will see two unique birds in the air.

The event, presented by Selection.com, will feature the Angry Bird balloon piloted by Gary Moore and Jewel the Hummingbird piloted by Doug Grimes, said Paula Hale, the event manager.

“People love to see these balloons at glows and in flight, so we are especially excited to have two unique and colorful special shape balloons for our crowd this year,” she said.

The Angry Bird balloon is in Durban, South Africa, and will be shipped to Middletown next week, Hale said. The Angry Bird Balloon will be on one pallet weighing 1,108 pounds. Moore has flown in 37 states and 17 countries, Hale said. During the 2005 Ohio Challenge, Moore flew the Woodrow C. Greenleaf, the 120-foot tall Brazilian Rain Forest tree.

Jewel the Hummingbird, a relatively new balloon, was made and tested last year in Brazil. Jewel is rated at 111,000 cubic feet and stands roughly 100 feet tall. Grimes began flying balloons in 1979. Over the course of his career he has flown in Colorado and California.

This year the field of competition increased to include nearly 40 hot air balloons. The competition also expanded. Pilots will compete for the Ohio Challenge and the BFA Great Lakes Regional Championship. The competition is also accompanied by a full festival. This year’s festival will feature skydiving demos by Team Fastrax, fireworks courtesy of Start Skydiving, a laser light show, evening balloon glows, live entertainment, a carnival, car show, and food and craft vendors.

A new addition to the event this year is the Warrior Weekend to Remember. The Warrior Weekend will honor active duty and veteran men and women of the armed forces who have been injured in combat or training.