Balloons Over Vermilion

05/31/2026

A huge thank you to Earthrise Energy for lighting up the night as the sponsor of our Evening Glow.

Your support helps create one of the most unforgettable experiences of the weekend as the balloons illuminate the sky and bring families together for a night to remember. We’re grateful for your partnership and your investment in making Balloons Over Vermilion a success.

Join us June 5–6 at Kennekuk County Park in Danville.

Learn more at www.balloonsoververmilion.com

05/31/2026

Meet the Pilot: Brian Koch, flying Carried Away!

Q: When you are not flying, what do you enjoy doing?
A: If I'm not hanging out with my wife or kids, you can find me at LTA Services helping with balloon maintenance and talking balloon stuff. We also volunteer for an organization that helps children with special needs get their very own tryke, specially built to suit their needs.

Q: Why did you become a pilot?
A: I had a friend take me for a ride and decided right then and there that flying balloons was what I wanted to do!

Q: What do you find is the most challenging about flying a hot air balloon?
A: The weather is the most challenging thing, in my opinion.

Q: What's something interesting that ballooning has allowed you to do?
A: Ballooning has allowed me to travel to different areas to fly and meet all kinds of interesting people that share our love for ballooning.

Q: What do you most want the public to know/understand about hot air balloons and flying them?
A: Flying in a balloon is different than any other form of flight because you do not have a steering wheel. You have to rely on the wind and maybe different directions of wind at different elevations to try and "steer" your way along.

Carried Away is generously sponsored by: Chevron
Don't miss Balloons Over Vermilion, happening THIS Friday and Saturday, June 5-6! Learn more at https://f.mtr.cool/ziutbqzyil

05/30/2026

Meet the pilot: Theo Hartman, flying Supercluster!

Q: When you are not flying, what do you enjoy doing?
A: I like spending time outside in nature with my family!

Q: Why did you become a pilot?
A: I was introduced to ballooning early on in my life through an event in my hometown. After my first flight I was hooked!

Q: What do you find is the most challenging about flying a hot air balloon?
A: Being consistent while flying competition events.

Q: What's something interesting that ballooning has allowed you to do?
A: To share the wonder of ballooning with kids at schools I went to as a kid.

Q: What do you most want the public to know/understand about hot air balloons and flying them?
A: If you are interested in the sport of ballooning, crewing for pilots is a great way to get involved! Who knows, you might just end up being a pilot yourself!

Learn more about Balloons Over Vermilion on June 5-6 at https://www.balloonsoververmilion.com/

05/30/2026

Thank you to the John P. Cadle Foundation for helping make our Evening Flights possible.

Your support helps bring the magic of hot air balloons to Vermilion County and creates memories for thousands of guests who gather to watch these incredible launches. We appreciate your commitment to our community and to this event.

Join us June 5–6 at Kennekuk County Park.

Learn more at www.balloonsoververmilion.com

05/30/2026

Helping spread the word and build excitement for Balloons Over Vermilion year after year would not be possible without our incredible Media Partners!

As we celebrate 10 years of this amazing event, we are so grateful for the radio stations, news outlets, and media organizations that help share our story with the community and beyond.

Your support, promotion, and partnership play a huge role in helping Balloons Over Vermilion continue to grow and bring people together each year. Thank you for being part of this special milestone celebration!

🎈 Don't miss Balloons Over Vermilion 2026, June 5-6 at Kennekuk County Park. Learn more at https://f.mtr.cool/lxjbbvuxvx

05/29/2026

A special thank you to Runnings Stores and Chris & Suzette Kittell and Pat & Elaine O'Shaughnessy for sponsoring the Up & Away 5K. Your support helps launch one of our newest event experiences and gives participants another exciting way to be part of Balloons Over Vermilion weekend.

We appreciate your generosity and your commitment to making this event a success for our community!

Join us June 6 at 7:30AM for the Up and Away 5k at Kennekuk County Park!

Learn more at https://www.balloonsoververmilion.com/up-and-away-5k

05/29/2026

Meet the pilot: Byron D, Balloonmeister, flying Chief!

Q: When you are not flying, what do you enjoy doing?
A: Spending time with friends and family, making memories with my wife and son.

Q: Why did you become a pilot?
A: After starting as crew member and then a crew chief for corporate programs, becoming a pilot was the next logical step.

Q: What do you find is the most challenging about flying a hot air balloon?
A: Figuring out what the balloon is going to do, and then either allowing it to go ahead and do that thing, or manipulate it so that you get it to do what YOU want it to do.....like go a certain direction.

Q: What's something interesting that ballooning has allowed you to do?
A: It's allowed me to meet some amazing people across the world who I consider my closest friends. To date, I've operated balloons in 40 states and 5 countries. Some of my most memorable flights were crewing in the Austrian Alps, flying over the Continental Divide in Colorado and flying/crewing in New Zealand.

Q: What do you most want the public to know/understand about hot air balloons and flying them?
A: We love sharing our sport with other people, so don't be afraid to come out and chase us if you see us flying, help us pack up. You never know, there may be a future balloonist among you!!

Learn more about Balloons Over Vermilion on June 5-6 at https://www.balloonsoververmilion.com/

05/28/2026

Future balloon pilots, this one’s for you.

Balloon School, sponsored by Watchfire, is one of the most loved family experiences at Balloons Over Vermilion.

Kids get an up close look at how hot air balloons work through hands on activities, learning, and fun built just for them.

Big wonder. Big excitement. Big memories.
Don't miss it! June 6th, 4:00-5:30pm at Kennekuk County Park. Free with your festival admission. Learn more at https://f.mtr.cool/hvchywdopc

05/28/2026

Tommy B catches up with Pat O’Shaughnessy and Jim Anderson on the history of Balloons Over Vermilion and what you can expect at this year’s event!

It's 10 years Above & Beyond as Balloons Over Vermilion is celebrating its 10th anniversary with big changes. A new date ... June 5-6, and a new location ... Kennekuk County Park. Pat O'Shaughnessy & Jim Anderson stopped by Tommy B's Big Show to talk about the beginnings of the event 10 years ago, a...

05/28/2026

A successful event takes an incredible amount of teamwork, preparation, and community support. We are so thankful for our Grounds Support partners who help make Balloons Over Vermilion possible each year.

As we celebrate our 10th anniversary, we want to recognize and thank those who help provide the spaces, equipment, services, and behind-the-scenes support that keep the event running smoothly and safely for everyone to enjoy.

Your partnership and dedication mean so much to us, and we are grateful to celebrate this milestone year together.

🎈 Don't miss Balloons Over Vermilion 2026, June 5-6 at Kennekuk County Park. Learn more at https://f.mtr.cool/tyqswjrexl