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We look forward to seeing you in September!

Posted on 02/23/13

Theatrical Fireworks Display

There will again be a theatrical fireworks display at the Hot Air Festival! Our 2012 display included 1,133 low-level shots. If you thought last year was great, you will love this year even more! You didn’t think it could get any better? It will!

The show will be held on Saturday, Sept. 7, and will begin at approximately 10:15 p.m., following the Light Parade.

Fireworks

Congratulations and thank you to Cooper Farms! They are sponsoring our display in celebration of their 75th anniversary!

Posted on 06/11/13

Spaghetti Dinner

Get a full dinner – salad & dressing, spaghetti entree, garlic bread stick, and dessert – at the Spaghetti Dinner sponsored by the Van Wert Peony Festival Committee!

Friday, September 6, 2013
5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Van Wert County Fairgrounds – 40/8 Chicken Shack
Adults: $7.00
Children (3-10 years): $3.00

Tickets can be purchased at the following locations:

• Derry Drugs
• Van Wert Convention & Visitors Bureau
• Van Wert County Fairgrounds

You can also purchase tickets from a Peony Festival Committee member. Call (419) 232-2010 for more details. A limited number of tickets will be sold at the door.

Posted on 06/10/13

Pancake Breakfast

Pancakes, griddlecakes, hotcakes, or flapjacks! By whatever name you call them, come get a stack on Saturday and Sunday mornings!

7:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

Saturday, Sept. 7 and Sunday, Sept. 8

Agricultural Building @ the Fairgrounds

Hosted by:

Posted on 06/10/13

Opening Ceremony

The Opening Ceremony will be held at the grandstand/infield. Festival-goers are invited to sit in the grandstand. To help commemorate the event, a flag-bearing sky diver, Jim Nelson, will make a grand entrance to the infield.

Grab a good eat, grab your camera, and grab a good seat! Join us to help kick off this year’s Van Wert Hot Air Festival!

View our Schedule of Events for the date and time of our Opening Ceremony this year.

Posted on 06/04/13

Balloon Glow

The Balloon Glow is an event you don’t want to miss. It takes place before the sun rises or after the sun sets. The balloons stay on the ground as the pilots light their burners for a spectacular effect.

Check out the Schedule of Events for dates and times of this year’s glow events.

 

Posted on 06/04/13

Trackless Train Rides

Kids AND adults are welcome to ride the trackless train! The rides are FREE! Hop in a car and take a tour of the fairgrounds. Take a load off your feet. Easily entertain the kids for a bit…while you grab a snack!

Check out the Schedule of Events to see when the train will be running. All aboard!

Posted on 06/04/13

2013 Schedule of Events

Thursday, September 5, 2013

All activities for Thursday are at the Van Wert County Regional Airport

4:30 pm (estimated start time)

Media event (Distant balloon rides for representatives of various news outlets. Four to five balloons will launch from the airport.)
Free tethered balloon rides for area special needs residents (Tony Sandlin and his crew will carry an estimated 150 persons aloft for the ride of their lifetime. Rides must be prearranged.)

Friday, September 6, 2013

All activities for Friday are at the Van Wert County Fairgrounds

3:00 pm

Gates & Infield Open
Information Center Open
Raffle and Gift Display Open (Information Center)
Food Court Open
Brew Ha-Ha Biergarten Open
Adult & Youth Trackless Train Rides
Amusement Rides and Games
Miniature Golf Open
Pony Rides Open
Petting Zoo Open
Vendors Open
Crafts and Garage Sales Open (Commercial Building)
Rolling Thunder Chapter 6 Display
Helicopter Rides Open

4:30 pm

Sponsors Hospitality Event (Agriculture Building, Invitation Only)

5:00 to 7:00 pm

Spaghetti Supper (Peony Festival) (40/8 Chicken Shack)

5:30 pm

Official Opening Ceremony (Grandstand)
Plein Aire Paint Out Begins (Throughout the Fairgrounds)

5:45 pm

Flag Bearing Sky Jumper (Grandstand)

5:00 pm

Balloon Launch Preparation

5:30 pm

Distant Balloon Crew Rides

5:30 to 10:00 pm

Tethered Balloon Rides (Grandstand Infield)

6:00 pm

Balloon Launch (Grandstand Infield)

8:15 pm

Balloon Glow (Grandstand Infield)

8:30 pm

Entertainment at the Brew Ha-Ha ‘Jeff Tucker and On the Beach’

1:00 am

Gates Close

Saturday, September 7, 2013

All activities for Saturday are at the Van Wert County Fairgrounds

4:30 am

Gates Open
Infield Open
Information Center Open
Raffle and Gift Display Open

5:00 am

Pre Dawn Glow and Dawn Patrol Launch, never seen in Van Wert and seldom seen East of the Mississippi River.

Dawn Patrol Flight will be lead by Mr. Tony Sandlin who will guide several other Balloonists from the darkness of night into the rising sun looking for a safe landing site an hour or more from Van Wert. Crew rides are available for Dawn Patrol Flights.

7:00 to 11:00 am

Pancake Breakfast (Sponsored by: Main Street Downtown & Optimist Club of Van Wert) (Agriculture Building)

6:30 am

Balloon Launch Preparation

7:30 am

Balloon Launch

7:30 am

Distant Balloon Crew Rides Available

8:00 am

Craft and Garage Sale Open (Commercial Building)
Train Display Open (Commercial Building)
Helicopter Rides (Infield)
Food Court Open

9:00 am

Pony Rides Open
Children Activities Open
Plein Aire Paint Out Begins

9:00 to 12:30 pm

First Friends Youth Activity Open
Petting Zoo Open
Adult & Youth Trackless Train Rides (Fairgrounds)

10:00 to 5:00 pm

Farm Bureau Tractor Driving “Kids Dream Day” (Infield)

11:00 am

4H/NRA Rifle Range
Firearm Safety Seminar (Jr Fair Building)

1:00am

Cornhole Tournament (Agriculture Building)

1:00 pm

Brew Ha-Ha Open
Football Games on Wide Screeen TV

1:00 to 4:00 pm

Balloon Sculpture (Fairgrounds)
Pleine Aire Judging, Awards and Sales

1:30 to 4:30 pm

Fort Wayne Scottish Pipes and Drums
Kim Hohman’s DanceWorks (Gospel Pavilion)
Hearts in Motion Baton Dance and Cheer Center, Delphos (Gospel Pavilion)

4:00 to 7:00 pm

BBQ Dinners (Local Fire Dept.)
Pork Chop or Chicken & Trimmin’s (40/8 Chicken Shack)

4:30 pm to ?

Tethered Balloon Rides (Infield)

6:00 pm

Balloon Launch
Distant Balloon Crew Rides Available

7:30 pm

Todd Allen Show (Grandstand)

8:15 pm

Balloon Glow (Infield)

10:00 pm

Light Parade (Infield)
Judging of Light Parade Entries (Fairgrounds)

10:15 pm

Theatrical Fireworks display (Infield)

10:00 pm

Musical Entertainment (DJ) Brew Ha-Ha

1:00 am

Gates Close

Sunday, September 8, 2013

4:30 am

Gates Open
Infield Open
Information Center Open
Raffle and Gift Display Open

5:00 am

Pre Dawn Glow and Dawn Patrol Launch, never seen in Van Wert and seldom seen East of the Mississippi River.

Dawn Patrol Flight will be lead by Mr. Tony Sandlin who will guide several other Balloonists from the darkness of night into the rising sun looking for a safe landing site an hour or more from Van Wert. Crew rides are available for Dawn Patrol Flights.

7:00 to 11:00 am

Pancake Breakfast (Sponsored by: Main Street Downtown & Optimist Club of Van Wert) (Agriculture Building)

6:30 am

Balloon Launch Preparation

7:30 am

Balloon Launch
Distant Balloon Crew Rides Available

9:00 am

Helicopter Rides

9:30 am

Non-denominational Service (Gospel Pavilion)

10:00 am

Crafts, Vendors and Garage Sales Open

10:00 am

Children Activities Open
Petting Zoo Open
Food Vendors Open

1:00 pm

Brew Ha-ha open

2:30 pm

Entertainment Ken & Mary Turbo Accordions (At the Brew ha-ha) (Oompha music)

2:00 pm

Bed Races (Fairgrounds)

4:00 pm

Raffle drawings

6:00 pm

Gates Close

- Please check back for updates. Events and times are subject to change.  Balloon launches are subject to weather conditions and the pilot in command makes the final go/no go decision for each launch. -

Posted on 06/04/13

Ken & Mary Turbo Accordions

We will offer a new, unique form of entertainment at the Biergarten (Beer Garden) on Sunday. Ken & Mary Turbo Accordions, a four-piece band dressed in authentic German costume, will take the stage from 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

With Ken on a “Button Box” and Mary on a piano accordion, the show will be entertaining for all ages.

Learn more about the band at the Ken & Mary Turbo Accordions Web site.

Posted on 05/19/13

2012 HAF video

Posted on 05/14/13

Jeff Tucker & On the Beach

Jeff Tucker & On the Beach

8:30 p.m. on Friday, September 6, 2013

Jeff Tucker & On the Beach travel from Northern Michigan to the Gulf Coast, performing music that includes a variety of dynamics – mixing elements of rock, pop, and country, with references to Americana and jazz.

On the Beach is a road-tested concert act with an eighteen-year history. The longevity reflects their audience’s appreciation for strong songwriting, harmony, musical craftsmanship, and the ability to appeal to different generations and a variety of musical tastes.

Find more info about the band at the Jeff Tucker & On the Beach web site.

Posted on 05/13/13

Dawn Patrol – NEW to the HAF!

A spectacular new feature will be added to the 2013 Hot Air Festival! Balloons will be taking off before sunrise, lit up as they fly across the dark sky, creating a beautiful show.

Dawn Patrol launches and flights are seldom seen in the Eastern U.S. However, they are very common in the Western States such as Albuquerque, NX and Reno, NV.  From all indications, these flights will be the first of their kind in Van Wert, including the former Hot Air Affair. The Dawn Patrol will be an amazing sight you don’t want to miss.

Typically, balloons cannot fly during dark hours, they can only do “glows” on the ground. Special lighting systems, custom-built by members of the Dawn Patrol at their own expense, are FAA-approved for conducting pre-sunrise flights.

Read more about the process at the Official Dawn Patrol Web site.

Want to be a part of the launch? You can take a ride on one of the Dawn Patrol balloons! The ride will last approximately one hour. Tony Sandlin’s balloon is equipped with an entry door for those with mobility impairments and can launch up to 5 passengers. All other balloons are equipped for two passengers.

Dawn Patrol rides are limited in number and are scheduled on a first come basis. Call Jerry Mazur to get your Dawn Patrol or normal daylight ride booked now!

View a sample video below of a Dawn Patrol in Reno, Nevada. This is the same type of show that will be featured at the 2013 HAF!

Posted on 04/21/13

Petting Zoo

We will again feature a petting zoo at the Hot Air Festival. There is no additional charge, just come on over! All ages can visit, pet, and feed the animals. A wide variety of animals will be waiting to meet you – some of those you might see are alpacas, goats, kangaroos, and deer!

Posted on 04/20/13

Fort Wayne Scottish Pipes & Drums

The Fort Wayne Scottish Pipe & Drums band will be returning to the 2013 HAF!
More details to follow.

http://www.fortwaynescottish.org/

Posted on 04/14/13

Kids Dream Day

Anyone ages 6+ can come out to the fairgrounds to fulfill a DREAM of driving a big GREEN TRACTOR! We will also have an obstacle course set up to resemble a roadway for adults to experience what it is like to be in a tractor driving down the road.

We want you to come out and have some FUN while learning how to be SAFE around tractors along with how to better understand why farmers drive slowly on a roadway.

More details to follow!

Posted on 03/31/13

Pony Rides

Pony rides will be available at a nominal cost.

Posted on 03/26/13

Todd Allen Herendeen

Saturday, September 7th
Time TBA

Todd Allen Herendeen will be returning for the 2013 VWHAF!

www.toddallenherendeen.com
www.mynameisamerica.us
www.facebook.com/toddallenherendeen
My Name is America on YouTube

View Todd Allen Herendeen’s Bio in PDF format.

“My Name is America” Lyrics

BORN IN THE GRIP OF OPPRESSION, I FOUGHT FOR MY LIBERTY
I PAID WITH THE BLOOD OF MY PEOPLE, FREEDOM HAS NEVER BEEN FREE
NOW MY DOOR’S ALWAYS OPEN, TO DREAMERS AND FRIENDS
BUT WHEN I’M ATTACKED, I PROTECT AND DEFEND
BECAUSE MY NAME IS AMERICA
I STAND PROUD AND FREE
MY NAME IS AMERICA
DON’T TREAD ON ME
I CANNOT BE BROKEN
I CANNOT BE SHAMED
IF YOU HURT ME I GET STRONGER
AND I RISE UP FROM THE FLAMES
AND I’LL ALWAYS STAND PROUD AND FREE
I’M AMERICA DON’T TREAD ON ME
AMERICA IS MY NAME
MY STRENGTH WAS NOT TAKEN FROM OTHERS, OTHERS GAVE IT TO ME
THEY BELIEVE IN THE VIRTUES I STAND FOR, MY RESPECT FOR HUMANITY
NOW I’M CHALLENGED BY TYRANTS, WHO ENVY MY POWER
BUT THEIR VICIOUS DEEDS, BECOME MY FINEST HOUR
~ CHORUS AGAIN~
BRIDGE:
FOR THOSE WHO NEED ME, I’LL ALWAYS BE HERE
THOSE WHO WOULD HARM ME, I’LL FACE WITHOUT FEAR
AND I’LL ALWAYS STAND PROUD AND FREE
I’M AMERICA DON’T TREAD ON ME
I’M AMERICA YES AMERICA IS MY NAME

Posted on 12/10/12

Van Wert Amateur Radio Club

The Van Wert Amateur Radio Club “W8FY” will be operating a Ham radio station during the Hot Air Festival.

The Club will be demonstrating Radio operations to the Boy Scouts (“BSA”), Civil Air Patrol, and all other interested attendees at the Hot Air Festival.

Licensed Ham operators will be providing an overview of equipment and skills necessary to become a ham radio operator. The equipment necessary to operate a ham radio station is readily available thereby making it possible for anyone to get connected with other radio operators around the world.

When at the Hot Air Festival you may look us up, we will be located near the Emergency Management Base Station near the Jr. Fair Building.

Visit our Web site at http://www.w8fy.org/ for additional club information.

Posted on 12/08/12