Michigan Challenge Balloonfest
michigan challenge balloonfest annual hot air balloon festival established held howell michigan last weekend june event draw crowd michigan surrounding state attendance often topping threeday weekend festival hosted howell area chamber commerce take place howell high school run head howell area chamber commerce janelle best well balloonmeister competition director phil clinger th annual michigan challenge balloonfest postponed due covid pandemic instead took place festival start year friday afternoon opening carnival right grand river light make spectacle anyone driving downtown area every night friday night also feature firework display festival sponsored medilodge howell art festival held next howell high school main campus go entire weekend attracts vendor selling anything craft handpainted artwork saturday morning day start early balloon flyin downtown howell st joseph mercy hospital kid day held lawn historical howell courthouse feature demonstration karate dancing balloon night glow one favorite event festival since introduction weekend held late saturday night year evening launch pilot come back launch field reinflate balloon led countdown light burner together crowd treated balloon glowing together field several mass balloon launch scheduled year flight weather dependent many factor rain wind friday night balloon launch howell high school freshman campus main launch field saturday sunday morning pilot partake multiple competition time involving flying main field attempting drop marker bean bag ripstop nylon tail onto one multiple large target placed pilot would normally take well location around city many howell native enjoy waking impressive show navigation skill patience saturday evening hold another mass launch followed famous balloon glow pilot return launchfield light balloon evening darkness delight crowd sunday evening hold farewell mass launch close event date event sponsored advanced disposal citizen insurance howell public school medilodge howell annually sponsor firework display pepsico major beverage sponsor event suburban propane official propane sponsor past title sponsor included pnc bank father son construction cleary university official website flickr photo video michigan challenge balloonfest