Come out to Harrison, AR for the 22nd Annual Arkansas Hot Air Balloon State Championship! The two day event includes a cornucopia of attractions, including hot air balloon rides, competitions, live music, and much more! September 7th to the 9th, 2018!
The Arkansas Hot Air Balloon State Championship that was begun in 1995 grows bigger and better each year! The event, aka the Arkansas Balloon Festival and the Arkansas Hot Air Balloon Race, features more than 20 hot air balloons.
During the event, balloon pilots will compete in challenges like the Hare and Hound and Key Grab. Hare and Hound involves one balloon placing a big X on the ground and the others dropping markers as close to the X’s center as they can. The closest marker wins. Key Grab involves the balloon pilots attempting to be the first to grab a ring fastened to the top of a tall pole.
The Arkansas Hot Air Balloon Festival will also feature a Balloon Glow. If you’ve never experienced a hot air balloon glow, you’re missing out! A balloon glow is when the balloons are inflated at night or dusk. The light of burner used to inflate the balloons for the event also causes them to glow colorfully in the dark. Spectacular!
The Festival kicks off 8pm, Friday at the Boone County Regional Airport with a FREE concert by Jason Pritchett & The Steel Horses. Other inducements include skydivers, tethered rides, helicopter rides, a beer garden, vendors, and more. Some Saturday events will take place at the Anstaff Soccer Complex. See the schedule below for more details.
Harrison Arkansas Hot Air Balloon Festival Schedule
Friday Sep. 7 (at the Boone County Regional Airport)
4pm – Parking on Hester Drive Opens
4:30pm – Skydiving Opens
6pm – Food and Craft Vendors/Beer Garden Open
7:30pm – 911 Tribute
8pm – Jason Pritchett & The Steel Horses
9pm – Hot Air Balloon Glow
Saturday Sep. 8 (at the Boone County Regional Airport)
7am – Check-in for the CASA 5K Run
8am – Parking on Hester Drive Opens, CASA 5K, and Skydiving
8:45am – CASA Superhero Fun Run 1K for Kids
9am – Helicopter Rides and Vehicle Displays
9:15am – CASA Awards Ceremony
10am – Food and Craft Vendors
11am – Balloon Crew Demonstration
12pm – Home Depot Children’s Construction Projects
Saturday Sep. 8 (at the Anstaff Soccer Complex)
4pm – CASA KidsFest opens
6pm – Harrison Regional Chamber of Commerce Tethered Rides, and Helicopter Rides
Sunday Sep. 9 (at the Anstaff Soccer Complex)
7am – Balloon Flights and Key Grab Competition
Arkansas Hot Air Balloon State Championship
September 7th to the 9th, 2018
Boone County Regional Airport – 2524 Airport Rd, Harrison, AR 72601
Anstaff Soccer Complex – 202 Old Stonewall Rd, Harrison, AR 72601
Visit arkansasballoonfest.com for more details.
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