THE FOLLOWING IS A BALLOONS OVER VERMILION RELEASE
Anyone who does anything to help a child is a hero to me. Fred Rogers
The 10th annual Balloons Over Vermilion—summer’s premier hot air balloon festival—will kick off the 2026 fair and festival season with two exciting updates: a new date, Friday and Saturday, June 5–6, 2026, and a new location at Kennekuk County Park. These milestone changes celebrate a decade of community fun and bring the festival full circle with a nostalgic nod to its predecessor, the Balloon Classic of the 1990s.
“We are very excited to celebrate a decade of delighted smiles as colorful hot air balloons fill the sky and light the night with dazzling balloon glows,” shared Carly Goodwin, Festival Co-Chair. “Shifting to June gives our neighbors, friends, and visitors another opportunity for extended family fun throughout the
summer.”
“The Vermilion Regional Airport has been a wonderful and gracious partner but hosting a large-scale festival at an active airport limits some logistical and attraction opportunities,” explained Dean Carlton, Host Pilot and Co-Chair.
“We are thrilled to welcome Balloons Over Vermilion to Kennekuk County Park for 2026 and beyond,” added Jamie Pasquale, Director of the Vermilion County Conservation District. “The timing is perfect for thousands of guests to explore Vermilion County’s natural beauty and the Bunker Hill Historic Village—combined with community entertainment at its finest.”
The 10th anniversary celebration will showcase more than 30 picturesque, show-stopping hot air balloons, including special shapes, tethered balloon rides, a huge Kids Zone, continuous live entertainment in the beer tent, Balloon School, and a wide variety of food vendors to satisfy every fairfood craving. Co-chairs and the festival steering committee are also exploring several exciting new additions to commemorate 10 years of giving back to the community in grand style.
For event updates and information, follow Balloons Over Vermilion on Facebook and Instagram or visit BalloonsOverVermilion.com.
