DISCOUNTED OHIO CHALLENGE PARKING PASS ON SALE

The Ohio Challenge Hot Air Balloon Festival committee is offering Middletown area fans  an opportunity to purchase discount pre-sale parking passes for $7 from July 13 to July 21 only, at MidFirst Credit Union’s office on Towne Blvd.  Parking passes purchased after July 21 will be $10 and available only at the entrance to Ohio Challenge. Each pass is good for all three days of the event set for July 22-24, 2005 at Smith Park in downtown Middletown.

The specially priced parking passes are a thank you to local residents who help make the event so popular with out of town guests and visiting hot air balloon pilots. The discounted presale parking passes are made possible through an arrangement with Ohio Challenge’s primary sponsor MidFirst Credit Union

Ohio Challenge, now in its third year, drew 70,000 people to Smith Park during the 2004 event.  The 2005 event will feature 33 hot air balloons, flying Friday evening, and both morning and evening on Saturday and Sunday, with evening balloon glows on Friday and Saturday night. All balloon flights are weather permitting. Other entertainment at the event includes live music on the outdoor stage, rugby games, an aircraft display, cold air inflated balloon walk, a carnival, arts and crafts, festival foods, sky divers and much more. The Ohio Challenge is hosted by the Chamber of Commerce serving Middletown, Monroe and Trenton.