1500 Central Avenue
Middletown, OH 45044
513-705-1770
www.MidFirstOhioChallenge.com info@OhioChallenge.com
Primary Sponsor
MidFirst
Credit Union
Platinum +
Middletown Community Foundation
Platinum
AT&T Real Yellow Pages
Chamber of Commerce serving
Middletown, Monroe, Trenton
City of Middletown
Start Skydiving.com-Team Fastrax
Gold
Digital Visuals
Middletown Journal/Cox Ohio Publishing-
Official Information Source
WPFB 910am, 105.9 fm
Silver
Atrium Medical Center
Bern’s Garden Center
Christian Credit Outreach, Inc.
Grace Baptist Church
Ocean Spray Cran-Energy
Bronze
Al Neyer, Inc
Clark, Schaefer, Hackett & Co
Cohen Brothers
Garden Manor
Kleingers & Associates
MillerCoors Brewery
MobilComm Communications
Summit Family Physicians
Special Thanks
Broad Street Bash
Middletown Regional Airport
B & B Aero
Middletown Aviation Foundation
United Way
Corporate Balloons
Atrium Medical Center
Bella Balloon Hot Air Balloon Co
Gentle Breeze Balloon Co.
NEWS RELEASE
For immediate release
Photos included
Contact: Ann Mort, 513-649-4506, RMort@cinci.rr.com
May 3, 2010
SPECIAL SHAPE BALLOONS COMING TO MIDFIRST OHIO CHALLENGE IN JULY
The Purple People Eater and Buzzy, special shape hot air balloons will be flying the skies over Middletown the weekend of July 16-18, 2010. The two very large flying creatures carry on the tradition of unusual balloons at the 8th Annual MidFirst Ohio Challenge hot air balloon festival.
The Purple People Eater, one of the most popular special shape balloons in the US, stands 80 feet tall and weighs in at 450 pounds. The ears are 18 feet tall. The giant purple creature took three months to build and will be flown by pilot John Cavin.
Buzzy is a bit two-faced. One side of the balloon is a happy face and the other side seems a bit grouchy. ”Born” in Sao Paulo, Brazil in 2006, he is 85 feet tall, weighs 540 pounds and holds 105,000 cubic feet of air or the equivalent of 105,000 basketballs. Keeping him company are his two best friends Sally Mander and Max the Mouse. Sally is 67 feet long and Max is 26 ½ feet tall. Pilot Shane Robinson has been flying balloons for 20 years and has spent more than 2,000 hours piloting balloons over 40 states and six countries. He also flies corporate advertising balloons.
Both balloons will be among the 40 balloons scheduled to take flight four times over the weekend. Between the early morning and early evening balloon flights there will be several free outdoor concerts, Team Fastrax skydivers, classic car show, arts & crafts and food vendors, an Indian Village, carnival rides and much more. Admission is $3 per adult walk-in (children 12 and under are free) OR $8 parking with free shuttle and free admission for all vehicle occupants.
For complete schedule and event details as they become available, visit www.MidfirstOhioChallenge.com. Event email is info@ohiochallenge.com, 513-705-1770
