Columbus Hot Air Balloon Regatta and Festival

Event Details

The Columbus Hot Air Balloon Regatta is held during the Columbus Day Festival in October of each year, the weekend prior to National Columbus Day. The community is usually host to 18 hot air balloons with a balloon glow on Friday evening at dark. Balloon races on Saturday and Sunday morning (sunrise) and Saturday evening - weather permitting. Saturday brings all day activities around the square with an art and craft fair, car show antique tractor, children' festival, entertainment and more. Come and enjoy our friendly citizens and the fastest growing festival in southeast Kansas.

USUAL EVENTS:
Scarecrow Contest, scarecrows will be on the North side of the square and East on Maple St. Register your scarecrow with the Chamber office and receive your assignment of location. Prizes will be given for two places. Contest is open to businesses, organizations and individuals. Scarecrows must be in place by noon, today.

Quilt Show, located at St. Rose Parish Hall, 129 N. Kansas, from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. Quilts will be accepted at the Columbus Library from Tuesday to Thursday.

Bean Feed, Maple Street, courthouse lawn. 5:00 pm. to ? Beverage available for purchase.In case of bad weather, will be in City Park. Sponsored by Commerce Bank.

Hot Air Balloon Glow, Industrial Park, Hwy 69 & Merle Evans Drive, around 6:45 pm. Weather permitting. $1.00 per person parking or $5.00 car pass for all balloon event parking. Non refundable.
If you have never seen a glow, you certainly don’t want to miss this!

Ribstock Bar-B-Q Cook Off. 100 block of E. Pine. Meat inspection shall be at 7:00 pm. Rules and Registration available from Marta Brown, 620-429-1414 or Chamber office. Sponsored by Crossland Construction Company.

SATURDAY

Ribstock Bar-B-Q Cook Off. 100 block of E. Pine. Cook's meeting at 6:30 am. Judging begins at 11:30 am. Categories include chicken, pork ribs, pork and beef brisket. Sponsored by Crossland Construction Company.

Pancake Breakfast, 320 W. Maple, First United Methodist Church 7:00 am. To 9:30 am. Start your day with a good breakfast!
Sponsored by First United Methodist Church.

Hot Air Balloon Regatta. Lift off between 7:00 and 7:30 am., weather permitting, in the Industrial Park on Hwy 69. Hare & Hound Race between balloons. $1.00 per person parking or $5.00 car pass for all balloon event parking. Non refundable.

5K, Run, Walk, Jog 7:30 am. ALL ages. Entry Fee $18.00 pre- register; $20.00 after 10/5. Starting point at Pine & Pennsylvania. Pre-register at American Bank, 620-429-2265. Sponsored by American Bank.

Parade, 9:40 am. Starts at Vermont & Maple. Down Maple St. to Tennessee St.

Car & Motorcycle Show. 8:30 am. to 4:00 pm. Downtown square. Antiques, Classic, Street Rods and more! Registration will be on the North side of the square (in front of Heartland Vision Center, 101 W. Maple). Pre- register at 620-429-2636 with Janie or Chamber office for $12.00. Day of show fee will be $15.00. Sponsored by Advantage Metal Recycling LLC. Hosted by Jay Hatfield Chevrolet.

Children's Corner, SW corner of square from9:00 am to 4:00 pm. Activities for children. Sponsored by Chem Club of CUHS.

Entertainment on SE corner, Finley River Boys a bluegrass, gospel and country band.
Will be playing from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm.

Old Timer’s Day, American Legion Fairgrounds. Antique tractors and farm machinery, blacksmith demos, horse drawn machinery, work horse demo’s, poultry swap, hay bale toss, tractor parade, and more. Vendor space available, contact 620-429-1492.

Quilt Show, located at St. Rose Parish Hall, 129 N. Kansas, from 9:00 am. to 4:00 pm. Judging will be by the public.

Petting Zoo, Southwest corner of the square. 10:00 am. to 3:00 pm.
Hosted by Columbus FFA

Inflatable Activities, Pennsylvania St. 9:00 am. to 4:00 pm. Armbands available for all day fun on six inflatables. Climbing Wall will be a separate fee.

Entertainment for all ages. 10:30 am. to 4:00 pm. In front of fountain on Maple Street will be CUHS music department, Natalie’s Dance Studio.

Arts & Craft Fair, 9:00 am. to 4:00 pm. Kansas St. on square. Booths of handicrafts- clothing, wood items and much more!

Carnival Games & Live Fish Racing, 2:00 pm. located on Pizza Hut parking lot. Ages 12 and under. Sponsored by Pizza Hut.

Hot Air Balloon Regatta. Lift off around 5:30 pm. Industrial Park, Hwy 69. Weather permitting. Hare and Hound Race. $1.00 per person parking or car pass for balloon event parking.

Tractor Pull, Saddle Club Arena on Park St. Registration and weigh-in begins at 4:00 pm. Event begins at 6:00 pm. Concession shack will be open. Come out and enjoy watching these geared up tractors. Free Admission.
Sponsored by Columbus FFA Alumni Association.

Columbus Day Fall Classic/National FITASC. Registered clay shoot at Claythorne Lodge. 620-597-2568.

A variety of food and soft drinks will be on sale on Pine St., south side of square.

Information & Souvenir Booth will be located on Kansas St. as you enter from Maple (white canopy tent, center of street).

SUNDAY

Hot Air Balloon Regatta Lift off between 7:00 am. and 7:30 am. Industrial Park, Hwy 69. Hare and Hound Race. Weather permitting. $1.00 per person parking or car pass.

Road Rally. 1:00 pm., leave from courthouse parking lot. $2.00 per person. Spend the afternoon taking in the country side with fun trivia, following written instructions. Prize given to winner, deciding factors being correct answers, time to run the course, and mileage. Sponsored by Relay For Life.

Doyle Lawson & Quick Silver Band concert. 3:00 pm Columbus High School auditorium. Tickets are $20.00 per ticket. Advance tickets may be purchased.
Sponsored by First Christian Church.

Columbus Day Fall Classic/National FITASC. Registered clay shoot at Claythorne Lodge. 620-597-2568.

***NOTE: If we have to move balloon field location it will be located at the American Legion Fair grounds on Country Road. Many times the weather looks fine standing on the ground, but a few feet up the winds can be causing havoc. The wind speed is the crucial factor; flights may be canceled on the field. This is frustrating for both the public and the pilots, but safety is always our priority. Don’t leave until the pilots leave.

The Board of Directors, officers, agents and employees of Columbus Chamber of Commerce and City of Columbus are not responsible for injury to or death of any person, or for damages to any property which any standee may sustain or be exposed to which arise out of or in connection with the presentation of any event.

Parking Fee - $1.00 per person or a one time parking fee of $5.00 per vehicle will be collected the first time onto the grounds. With the purchase of a vehicle pass, visitors will receive a window pass for additional entrance. You Choose! Non-refundable.

Columbus Chamber of Commerce
320 E. Maple • Columbus, KS 66725
620-429-1492
columbuschamber@columbus-ks.com
www.chamberofcolumbus.com