NOTE:
BALLOON LAUNCH TIME:
AT SUNRISE, weather permitting. (It's an early morning sport.) Balloons do not fly in the middle of the day because the wind picks up, but there are plenty of activities for your family to enjoy all day long!

SEEKING VOLUNTEERS
Meet your neighbors, have fun supporting the most popular event in the Valley, and feel good about your contribution!!

MEDIA

Largest Balloon in North America to launch in Eden

15th Annual Ogden Valley Balloon Festival to be held August 14 – 16, 2009

Eden, Utah — Imagine a picture perfect morning amidst the serene backdrop of the Wasatch Mountains, where suddenly 25 colorful hot air balloons begin inflating simultaneously. It’s an amazing sight.

The 15th Annual Ogden Valley Balloon Festival in Eden is scheduled for August 14, 15 & 16, 2009. The Festival offers affordable fun for the whole family and will feature balloon launches, Arts and Crafts booths, continuous live entertainment featuring a diverse selection of music, a mountain man rendezvous, kids games, climbing wall and Plein Air art competition and silent auction. Each evening at the Festival Field there will be a live concert with BBQ dinner offered for purchase. The popular Balloon Glow will take place Saturday evening, August 15 at dusk, approximately 8:45 p.m.

The Festival is free other than nominal fees for the kids’ games. The events will be held at Presenting Sponsor Wolf Creek Utah's two locations in Eden. The event is also made possible by a generous grant from the Utah Office of Tourism.

The 2009 Festival has expanded its name to the Ogden Valley Balloon & Artist Festival to reflect the growing emphasis on musical and visual artists who participate in the event. According to festival chairperson Larry McBride, “We are so fortunate to have over 50 musicians and musical groups who love to be a part of this event for the wonderful exposure it provides for their talents, as well as dozens of incredibly talented painters and craftspeople.”

The 4th Annual Plein Air Competition and Silent Auction draw more and more participants and spectators each year. The Mountain Man Rendezvous brings in a unique historical perspective to the arts, with their incredible period costumes and reproduction crafts. In conjunction with the Arts & Crafts show at Wolf Creek Utah Ski Resort, Wilkerson Fine Art and OgdenValleyMagazine.com will be sponsoring a “Plein Air” art competition. Literally translated, the French word “Plein” means “full.” This outdoor competition will start Saturday morning, August 15. Artists will begin painting at 8:00 a.m.

The goal of the artwork is to capture the essence of the balloon festival on a canvas. At 4:00 p.m., the artists stop painting and bring their creation to Wolf Creek Utah Ski Resort and the awards are given out at 5:00 p.m. Prizes range from $200 to $1,800, and all pieces will be offered to the general public for purchase. For more information, please contact Kris Wilkerson at (801) 745-9557.

The schedule of activities and locations is as follows: