JACKSON TWP. − Hot air balloons dotted the skies of Stark County as the annual Balloon Classic lifted off Friday morning.
The event, located at the Kent State University at Stark campus, 6000 Frank Ave. NW, will continue through the weekend as part of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival .
The media and sponsor flight took off as the sun rose early Friday morning.
The Balloon Classic, organized by the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce and sponsored by Aultman, attracts over 130,000 visitors and balloonists from across the United States, according to the Hall of Fame Festival website .
Flying with Bourbon Flight
Dan Gerbus, 46 pilots the Bourbon Flight balloon. It's a Lindstrand 90,000-cubic-foot green, yellow and purple balloon.
Gerbus started piloting in 1995. He was a commercial pilot working at airlines for 10 years. He trains new pilots at his current job.
"My mom said, 'Well what do you want to be when you grow up?'
"I said, 'Be a pilot.'
"She said, 'I'm sorry, son, you have to choose. Either grow up or be a pilot. Can't do both.'"
"I never grew up," Gerbus said.
He got his first experience with balloons when he worked as a crew member for other balloonists starting in 2012. He got his ballooning license in 2021.
He said piloting balloons is "an addiction," and he flies as often as possible.
Gerbus is from Kentucky and lives in Lewisville, North Carolina.
It's his third year at the Balloon Classic. He met his four-person crew — Lisa Coon, Nathan Richeson, Pat Schwartz and Ethan Schwartz — during his first year at the event when they were randomly assigned to him. They are from the Canton area. Some of them have now traveled with him to festivals across the country.
Gerbus said he attends about 10 festivals each year.
Wherever the winds takes us
The flight took off in Jackson Township and lasted about an hour.
The balloon floated southwest, over Hills and Dales and eventually landing in Massillon.
Flying a hot air balloon is at the mercy of the wind.
"You can only go where the wind blows you," Gerbus said while in the air.
New this year: Drone light shows Friday and Saturday
This year, the Balloon Classic will add two drone light shows in addition to existing events.
The shows will feature 300 unmanned aircrafts that have been illuminated and synchronized to music. Skyworx Drone Shows is putting on the shows.
The shows are roughly 12 minutes each and will take place in the sky over the balloon field. The theme of tonight's show is a celebration of football. Saturday, the theme will be sea in the sky.
"A lot of people have seen drone shows on social media, but it's not like seeing it in person," said Jim Christopherson, director of business development at Skyworx. "It'll blow people away. It always does."
The light show will begin at 10 p.m. today and 9:40 p.m. Saturday. Saturday's show will be followed by fireworks.
What to know: 2024 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival guide
Reach Grace at 330-580-8364 or gspringer@gannett.com. Follow her on X @GraceSpringer16.
Schedule for 2024 Balloon Classic
Heading to the annual Balloon Classic presented by Aultman? Here's the schedule. Admission is free, and parking is $10. Tethered balloon rides are $25 per person.
Friday
∎ 4 p.m.: Food and vendors open
∎ 4-10 p.m.: Target drop, balloon education area, children's inflatables area, skydivers
∎ 6-6:30 p.m.: Balloon launch (weather permitting)
∎ 7-9 p.m.: Tethered balloon rides
∎ 8:30 p.m.: Live music by Country Redford
∎ 9 p.m.: The night glow
∎ 10 p.m.: Drone light show
Saturday
∎ 6:30-7:30 a.m.: Balloon launch, with tethered balloon rides offered from 6 to 8 a.m.
∎ 8 a.m.: UP, UP & AWAY 5K
∎ 3 p.m.: Food and vendors open
∎ 4-10 p.m.: Target drop, balloon education area, children's inflatables area, skydivers
∎ 6-6:30 p.m.: Balloon launch
∎ 7-9 p.m.: Tethered balloon rides
∎ 8:30 p.m.: Live music by New Wave Nation
∎ 9:40 p.m.: Drone light show
∎ 10 p.m.: Fireworks
Sunday
∎ 6:30-7:30 a.m.: Balloon launch and target drop, with tethered balloon rides offered from 6 to 8 a.m.
More events: Here's the schedule for 2024 Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival events
This article originally appeared on The Repository: 'You can only go where the wind blows you.' 2024 Balloon Classic takes flight
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