Michigan Challenge Balloonfest facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Michigan Challenge Balloonfest |
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|---|---|
| Genre | hot air balloon festival |
| Frequency | Annually, last weekend of June |
| Location(s) | Howell, Michigan |
| Coordinates | 42°36′35″N 83°55′58″W / 42.60972°N 83.93278°W |
| Country | United States |
| Years active | 40 |
| Inaugurated | 1985 |
The Michigan Challenge Balloonfest is a super fun yearly event! It's a big hot air balloon festival that started way back in 1985. Every year, it happens in Howell, Michigan, during the last weekend of June.
Lots of people come to see the balloons, with over 100,000 visitors over three days! People travel from all over Michigan and nearby states to enjoy the show. The festival is put on by the Howell Area Chamber of Commerce and takes place at Howell High School. In 2020, the festival was postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but it came back in 2021.
Exciting Things to Do at the Festival
The festival kicks off on Friday afternoon with a lively carnival. Its bright lights make downtown Howell sparkle at night. On Friday night, there's also a fantastic fireworks display.
All weekend, you can explore the Arts Festival near Howell High School. Here, you'll find artists selling everything from cool crafts to beautiful paintings. Saturday morning starts early with the amazing balloon fly-in.
In downtown Howell, there's a special kids' day held on the lawn of the historic Howell Courthouse. You can watch cool demonstrations like karate and dancing. One of the most popular events is the balloon night glow, which started in 1993. It happens late on Saturday night.
After the evening balloon launch, the pilots bring their balloons back to the field. They inflate them again, and then, after a countdown, they all light their burners together! It's an incredible sight to see all the balloons glowing brightly in the dark.
Watching the Balloons Fly High
Many mass balloon launches are planned throughout the festival. Whether the balloons can fly depends on the weather, like if it's raining or too windy. On Friday night, all the balloons launch from the main field at Howell High School.
On both Saturday and Sunday mornings, pilots take part in exciting competitions. They often try to fly their balloons into the main field. Their goal is to drop a marker (a small bean bag with a tail) onto special targets placed on the ground. This takes a lot of skill and patience! Many people in Howell love waking up to this impressive show.
Saturday evening features another mass launch, followed by the famous Balloon Glow. About 20-25 pilots return to the launch field to light up their balloons, creating a magical scene for everyone. The festival closes on Sunday evening with a final farewell mass launch.
Who Helps Make It Happen?
Many groups help make the Michigan Challenge Balloonfest possible. Some of the main supporters include Advanced Disposal, Citizens Insurance, and Howell Public Schools. MediLodge of Howell helps sponsor the fireworks show each year. PepsiCo is the main drink sponsor, and Suburban Propane provides the propane for the balloons. Past supporters have included PNC Bank and Cleary University.
