Plans being finalized for Sikeston’s inaugural hot air balloon festival

SIKESTON —This summer Sikeston will host a unique and exciting community event: its first-ever Hot Air Balloon Festival from June 16 to 18.

“This is going to be an event unlike anything Sikeston has ever seen,” said committee chair Hali Kaminsky.

Kaminsky said she joined the Sikeston Rotary Club two years ago, and that was when the idea for a hot air balloon festival occurred.

“My co-workers and I were the youngest in the whole club, and they really wanted to get us involved,” Kaminsky said. “The club had been talking about the possibility of a hot air balloon festival, and they asked if we would research the idea and see if it would be feasible for Sikeston.”

Kaminsky said that an air balloon festival is held in Centralia, Illinois, and the event is managed by Skycab Balloon Promotions. SkyCab Balloon Promotions is a full-service hot air balloon business based in Louisville, Kentucky, that specializes in event management, and Kaminsky confirmed that the Sikeston Hot Air Balloon Festival would use them as well.

Kaminsky said this is a new event being introduced to Sikeston and she believes it would benefit the community greatly.

“The Sikeston Hot Air Balloon Festival can help boost tourism in our community,” Kaminsky said. “Helping small businesses, generating new revenue streams and introducing visitors to all that our town has to offer.”

The Sikeston Hot Air Balloon will have fun activities for the weekend, along with many vendors and more.

“With over 90 vendors, children’s activities, live music, and, of course, hot air balloons, there will be something for everyone,” Kaminsky added. “Bring your lawn chairs and be ready to take in the beauty of 10 hot air balloons.”

River Ridge Winery will also have a wine garden at the event, according to Kaminsky, and the Sikeston Jaycees will have a beer stand similar to the ones at the rodeo. Kaminsky added there will be tethered balloons available starting at 6:30 p.m. both Friday and Saturday, with real balloon flights commencing at 7 p.m.

According to Kaminsky, there will also be a balloon glow at night, and the hot air balloons will be tethered to the ground, but they will inflate the balloons so they appear to be glowing. There will also be music, and the balloons will glow in time with it.

The Hot Air Balloon Festival will also include live music. According to Kaminsky, the band Double Take will perform from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday. On Saturday, there will also be the band Southern Draw, who will be playing from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday.

Watch the balloons fly out to their next destination as they float their way out of Sikeston at 6 a.m. Sunday.

Kaminsky expressed her appreciation to the committee for all of their assistance with this event.

“I am so thankful for the amazing committee that is helping to bring this festival to life,” Kaminsky said. “Thank you to the Sikeston Regional Chamber, Sikeston Rotary Club, Sikeston Jaycees, Sikeston Parks and Rec, Sikeston DPS, FOCUS Bank and Missouri Delta Medical Center.”

To know more about the Sikeston Hot Air Balloon Festival, email sikestonhotairballoons@gmail.com. or visit their Facebook page.