Ashland BalloonFest 2026 Ready To Lift Off With Balloons, Glows, Monster Trucks, Food, Family Fun
ASHLAND, OHIO — One of Ashland’s biggest summer traditions is ready to rise again.
Ashland BalloonFest 2026 begins Thursday, June 25, at Freer Field, bringing three days of hot air balloons, food vendors, live music, family activities and new attractions to what organizers describe as the largest free family event in the area. The festival runs June 25-27, with a final morning balloon lift-off scheduled for Sunday, June 28, weather permitting.
Before the official opening, families will have a chance to get an early look during BalloonFest Preview Night on Wednesday, June 24, from 7 to 8 p.m. at Freer Field. Weather permitting, visitors can stop by and watch the balloons inflate up close before the festival officially begins Thursday.
BalloonFest Vice President Luke Wash has already been working at Freer Field for nearly a week, marking off the massive layout and preparing the grounds for thousands of visitors.
“This is my sixth day out here,” Wash said. “I don’t think people realize the amount of work it takes to get set up for BalloonFest.”
Wash said the setup covers roughly 30 acres and includes measuring and marking the launch field, Kid Zone, tether ride area, vendor spaces, parking areas and fencing. He said the work takes hours of preparation before visitors ever walk onto the field.
“I still work a full-time job, so I come after work in the evenings,” Wash said. “I was out here all weekend. I probably spent about seven hours out here on Sunday. On Wednesday, I will be out here for probably 12 hours organizing everything as the field gets set up for our first day on Thursday.”
This year’s festival is expected to feature about 29 balloons and two special shapes, including patriotic balloons tied to America’s 250th birthday celebration. Wash said one of the featured balloons, “George,” is red, white and blue with a large American flag, while “Splash” is a giant duck with red, white and blue coloring.
“I think this will be the best BalloonFest yet,” Wash said. “We’re bringing in the monster trucks, which a lot of people are excited about. We’re going to have probably a few more inflatables this year. We have some really cool balloons for America’s 250th anniversary.”
Thursday’s schedule includes the Kid Fun Zone, food vendors, merchant tents, monster truck rides, live music, opening ceremonies at 6:15 p.m., a balloon lift-off at 6:30 p.m. and the OhioHealth Balloon Glow at 9:15 p.m. The balloon glow features inflated hot air balloons lighting up against the night sky, choreographed to music.
The festival continues Friday with an early morning balloon lift-off around 7 a.m., Food Trailer Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., helicopter rides, wood carving demonstrations, tethered balloon rides, music by Emily Raff, another evening balloon lift-off and another balloon glow.
Saturday is packed with activities from morning through night, including the Grashland Volleyball Tournament, Ashland BalloonFest 5K, pancake breakfast and plane fly-in at Ashland County Airport, Jeep Show, Kid Fun Zone, food vendors, wood carvers, helicopter rides, monster truck rides, merchant tents, a pilot meet-and-greet, live music by Skittlebots, tethered balloon rides and another evening glow.
“Really everybody should expect a good time no matter the age,” Wash said. “There’s going to be something to do out here.”
Some of the new and returning attractions include helicopter rides, axe throwing, tethered balloon rides, wood carving, interactive Jeep show, RC construction, monster truck rides, volleyball tournaments, food vendors, merchant tents and live bands. The Kid Zone includes inflatables, princesses, RC excavators, balloon animals, the Bookmobile, face painting, glitter tattoos and axe throwing.
Wash said the monster trucks are expected to be a major draw this year. Gearheart’s Garage & 4×4 will provide monster truck rides for $10 per person. Wash said one of the trucks will debut with a new paint job.
“It’s going to be pretty awesome,” Wash said. “A couple big monster trucks, and they’re going to look really cool.”
BalloonFest also brings a major crowd to Ashland. Wash said organizers are expecting close to 30,000 people over the weekend, with many coming from outside Ashland. He said a large group of bikers is also expected to come through Ashland, bringing an estimated 2,000 to 3,000 additional people to the field.
The festival depends heavily on volunteers and sponsors. Wash said about 30 balloons require around five crew members each, meaning roughly 150 volunteers are needed just for the balloons. In total, he said a couple hundred volunteers and about 20 committee members help make the event possible.
“It takes a lot of hard work and people to put it on, and it takes a lot of money too,” Wash said. “The amount of sponsors we get really shows the passion and generosity that this community has to offer.”
For Wash, BalloonFest is more than an event. It is a yearly reunion of pilots, crews, volunteers and families.
“Ashland BalloonFest for me is almost like a family reunion,” Wash said. “Once a year you get to see all the pilots that come in, and they’re friends. It’s cool to see all of them again and to see all the crew that comes out and puts all their passion into it.”
Wash is also working toward becoming a balloon pilot himself. He said he is currently a student pilot and purchased his own balloon last year.
“It’s a really fun process,” Wash said. “But it takes a lot of commitment and a lot of time and money.”
All balloon flights, tethered rides and glows are weather permitting. Organizers remind visitors that drones are prohibited at Freer Field during the event. Leashed pets are welcome, but owners are asked to clean up after them. Handicap parking will be available at Ashland University Lot B with shuttle service to the field.
From the roar of monster trucks to the glow of balloons lighting up the Ashland sky, BalloonFest 2026 is set to offer something for everyone, and once again show why this summer tradition continues to lift the community higher.
