Poteau Chamber of Commerce & City of Poteau
Presents
Poteau BalloonFest 2023
NEWS RELEASE
June 27, 2023
For Immediate Release
Contact: Poteau Chamber of Commerce
Phone: 918-647-9178
Email: ceopoteau@poteauchamber.com
Poteau BalloonFest 2023 Continues to “Rise Above the Ordinary”
#PoteauBalloonFest2023CatchUsIfYouCan
(POTEAU, OKLAHOMA) – Poteau BalloonFest will continue to “Rise Above the Ordinary” October 20-21, 2023. Poteau BalloonFest is Oklahoma’s longest running balloon festival. The event has “ballooned” into a big success for Poteau and the surrounding area. Rising to new heights after being named the number one event and receiving the Governor’s Red Bud Award for Tourism, Poteau BalloonFest is now in its sixteenth year. In 2014, Poteau BalloonFest was named the #3 Top 40 Things to do in Oklahoma by “OKIECENTRIC” Magazine.
Poteau BalloonFest has made its way all over the United States with Oklahoma Tourism with TV advertisements, websites, and trade, travel, and tourism shows. The Oklahoma Tourism guide featured Poteau BalloonFest in 2014 calling it an “Adrenaline Rush” and one of the fastest growing festivals with all the added events and excitement. In 2018, Poteau BalloonFest was selected as one of the best Fall Festivals in Oklahoma by Best of American Towns, a Property of American Towns Media. This year’s event will not have any problem living up to these accolades.
Poteau BalloonFest is a fun-filled, family-friendly two-day event with attractions and something for everyone. Visitors of all ages can experience arts and crafts vendors, food vendors, carnival rides, and live entertainment. Some of the main attractions include the nightly balloon glow, tethered balloon rides, helicopter rides, monster truck rides, and mud races.
Over 400 volunteers and city and county employees help transform the LeFlore County Fairgrounds into an area that will take your breath away. The Poteau BalloonFest is one of the most picturesque events in the state and attracts photographers and media from Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Kansas, and Texas. The backdrop of Cavanal, the World’s Highest Hill, and colorful fall foliage set off the multi-color balloons, especially during the evening when the balloon pilots set up their balloons on the balloon field for the nightly glow.
Balloon pilots enjoy returning to Poteau BalloonFest each year and showing off their color-patterned balloons. Balloon Meister Dennis Short has been with the event every year since the beginning of Poteau BalloonFest and will return this year to help celebrate the 16th anniversary of Poteau BalloonFest.
Poteau BalloonFest will unofficially kick off the evening of October 19 when balloon pilots will take their balloons up and over Poteau’s city center and continue with media and sponsored flights the morning of October 20. Balloons usually fly in the early morning and late evening hours depending on the weather, but they may be spotted throughout the two-day event if the weather permits.
Poteau BalloonFest is open to the public at the LeFlore County Fairgrounds at 5015 S Broadway in Poteau, Oklahoma. Entry to the event is via an armband, which is valid for both days.
This year’s event will feature the return of two big hits with Poteau BalloonFest attendees--Great American Kites and Cockrills Country Critters Exotic and Farm Animals.
For updated events and times or to pre-purchase entry armbands, visit www.poteauballoonfest.net or call the Poteau Chamber of Commerce at 918-647-9178.
Come escape the ordinary with Poteau BalloonFest 2023. Keep your eyes on the skies! You never know what you’ll see in Poteau!
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(All balloon events are weather permitting as decided by the balloon meister and pilots).