The second annual Ohio Challenge Hot Air Balloon Festival to be held in downtown Middletown at Smith Park on July 23, 24 and 25 will include 29 arts and crafts vendors from Ohio, Michigan and Tennessee.  Vendors will set up shop along the north side of the festival site and offer a wide variety of items, most hand made by the artisan.

According to Lisa Pearce, chairwoman of the Arts and Crafts area, there will be everything from ceramics and stained glass to children’s toys.

Several crafters have interesting stories. One of those people is Donna Dalenberg of Donna’s folk Art Designs from Galion, Ohio, who has been a crafter for 43 years. For the past 20 years, she has sold her hand painted metal, wood and canvas pieces as well as sculpted polymer clay animals and sports figures. Besides her popular craft items, she has also painted mural in the Galion area including her most special project, a mural for a retirement home. She teaches art and craft classes and has served as caregiver for her invalid parents for 13 years. She looks forward to visiting with the guests at Ohio Challenge.  

Crafters expected at Ohio Challenge are:

                American Crafts                                   Cottontown, TN   Wood items, small furniture 

                All About Ceramics                                             Dayton                   Ceramics, woods, fabric, floral, iron   

                A+ Embroidery                                     Middletown                          Appliquéd shirts, shorts, slacks

                Baskets & Crafts                                  Cincinnati                              Baby quilts, table runners, t-shirts     

                Burchnell                                                               Springfield                             Quilts, placemats, bird houses, tin

                Cats Creations                                      Dayton                   Stained glass panels and sun catchers

                Coined A Phrase Calligraphy             New Carlisle                          Calligraphy mats & frames

                Crafted by Knight                                                Springfield                             Fabric and craft items

                DD's Designs                                                        Kings Mills                           Beaded jewelry, accessories

                Donna's Folk Art Designs                  Galion                                     Polymer clay figures, handpainted wood

                Elegantz Embroidery Designs            Dayton                   Embroidered clothing, purses, towels

                Finger Tip Shop                                   Dayton                   Table runners, marionettes, towels

                Funky Fedoras                                     Middletown                          Crazy hats, neck ‘koolers’, balloon magnets

                JW Designs                                                          Middletown                          Embroidered shirts, canvas bags, throws

                McClellans Country Crafts                 Williamsburg                        Painted jars, grapevine wreaths, shelves

                Mystic Coyote                                     Fairfield                  Jewelry, beads

                Nina's Ceramics & Gifts                      New Vienna                           Ceramics, outdoor decorations

                Princess Mudpie                                  Enon                                       Troughs, garden accents, signs

                San Rok Wood Specialties                 Dayton                   Handpainted wood items, flags

                Southwest Ohio Crochet Guild          Loveland                               Clothes, jewelry, home décor, photo albums

                The Tin Shop                                                        Dayton                   Hand punched tin ware, lighting      

                Twinkle of Light                                   Lebanon                                Hand blown glass, crystal accented glass

                Wacky Wax Hands                                              Cleves                    Wax hands, boo boo bunnies, spinners

                We Got You Covered                          Brookville                              Theme photo albums, NASCAR items

                Wild Over Wicks                                 Centerville                             Custom candles

                Wooden It Be Nice                                              Hubbard                                Lawn, deck, porch décor

Novelty Items

                September’s Treasures                       Waterford, MI      Yo Yo balloons, puppets, visors, toys

                CTM Enterprises                                  Cincinnati                              Glow necklaces, spin domes, patriotic items

                Create A Button                                   Cincinnati                              Personalized buttons, necklaces, tags

The 2004 Ohio Challenge Hot Air Balloon Festival will be held at Smith Park, 500 Tytus Avenue in downtown Middletown. Take I-75, exit 32 and follow the signs to the site near Hook Field airport.  Besides the twice daily hot air balloon flights, weather permitting, the festival planners will also include  the best of local festival foods, a children’s carnival, authentic Indian drum circle and dancing, a family balloon discovery center and entertainment on the outdoor stage. Admission to the festival site is free. Parking is $5 per vehicle. Grounds are open for the early morning flights with limited food service available. All festival vendors and entertainment are Friday 4 to 10:30 pm, Saturday Noon to 10:30 pm and Sunday, Noon to 7 pm.