The MidFirst Ohio Challenge - it's more than ballloons

How to go

MIDDLETOWN — People know the MidFirst Ohio Challenge primarily as a balloon festival, but there’s much more to it than bags full of hot air.

Indeed, there has to be in case the balloons are unable to fly. The flights are weather dependent — so much so that the balloons cannot fly if the winds blow at 12 miles per hour or more, even if the weather is otherwise gorgeous.

“The balloons can’t fly in the middle of the day. We have a whole festival going on even if the balloons weren’t there,” said Ann Mort, the event’s publicist.

That includes a number of bands, as well as activities for kids.

The Cleavers, a classic rock band with local ties, play from 6:30 to 10 p.m. Friday, July 16 at Smith Park. On Saturday, July 17, the country/rock band Stagger Lee, which also has local ties, will play from 4 to 7 p.m.

Finally, After Midnight, a 1970s classic rock band based in Cincinnati, wraps up the entertainment from 7:30 to 10 p.m. Saturday.

If those bands sound familiar, that’s because they all have played, or will play, at the Broad Street Bash, the block party that takes place every other week during the summer in downtown Middletown. Tim Lewis, who books the bands for the Bash, also booked the groups for the Ohio Challenge.

“The Broad Street Bash has been successful, so I just picked a lot of the same bands. They appeal to the types of crowds at all the festivals they have,” Lewis said.

Other activities include a classic car show from 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday, a “Fluff and Puff” attraction in which kids can walk through a cold-air inflated balloon and a new corn hole tournament at 2 p.m. Saturday. Offered throughout the weekend are skydiving demonstrations, food booths, arts and crafts booths, carnival rides, an Indian village and more.

From 7 to 11 a.m. on Saturday will be the Balloons and Breakfast event, with a pancake breakfast offered by Grace Baptist Church. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for kids. For advance tickets, call (513) 423-4658 or email mdavis@grace-middletown.com.

From 7 to 11 a.m. on Sunday, The festival proper does not run on Sunday, but there are balloon flights that morning until 10 a.m.

Event parking is at Hook Field, the Middletown airport, where shuttles will take visitors to Smith Park. Attendants will direct people to handicapped parking spots.

The recommended route from Interstate 75, Exit 32, is to follow Ohio 122 west past Towne Mall, veer to the right on Grand Avenue and then turn right on Breiel Boulevard. Follow Breiel to Ohio 73. Turn left on Ohio 73 and follow that route to Ohio 4/Germantown Road, at the Shell Station/McDonald’s corner. Turn right on Germantown Road and then left, just past Frisch’s, onto Run Way at the airport entrance.

From the west, take Ohio 122 across the bridge then left on Carmody Boulevard to Germantown Road. Turn right on Germantown to the airport entrance.

From the south, enter Middletown via Ohio 4/Verity Parkway, turn left at Germantown/Ohio 4 and then left into the airport.

The Tytus Avenue Smith Park entrance is for pedestrian traffic only. Public parking is $8 per vehicle, walk-in admission is $3.

Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2836 or erobinette@coxohio.com.