The 11th Annual Kalamazoo Balloon Fest presented by Zeigler Auto Group Is Back August 11-13th
The 11th Annual Kalamazoo Balloon Fest presented by Zeigler Auto Group Is Back August 11-13th
The 11th Annual Kalamazoo Balloon Fest, presented by Zeigler
Auto Group, will take place this Friday, August 11th and continue through
Sunday, August 13th at Gull Meadow Farms, Richland, Michigan. The event will
feature 25 balloons, one R/C balloon, 4 Balloon Flights, two evening balloon
glows, a classic car show, food trucks, and a pilot meet and greet.
KALAMAZOO, MICH (August 8, 2023) - The 11th Annual Kalamazoo Balloon Fest presented by Zeigler Auto Group will take place this weekend starting Friday, August 11th through Sunday, August 13th at Gull Meadow Farms in Richland, Michigan. The family-friendly weekend has something for everyone, with free general admission open to the public to enjoy two balloon glows, a classic car show, a pilot meet & greet and more. Plus, parking is only $5.00 per vehicle.
Besides the free entertainment, there will also be fun, farm activities for $12.00 per person; and guests can choose from tons of great food from four food trucks including Woodin Family Concessions, Hot Rod Grill, Skinny Kenny's, and On the Roll. For this event, please note that only service animals will be allowed.
Friday, August 11, 2023
10:00am - Gull Meadow Farms market opens
4:00pm - Gull Meadow Farms family activities open (S12/person)
5:00pm - Food Trucks open On The Roll Hot Rod Grill. Skinny Kennv's.Â
    Woodin Familv Concessions
6:30pm (approx.) - Hot air balloon launch from Gull Meadow Farms (weather dependent)
8:30pm (approx.) - Balloon Glow begins, family activities close for the evening
Glow will last for approximately 30 minutes once balloons are inflated
If you plan to watch the glow, plan to arrive BEFORE 8:30pm so you don't miss it!
Saturday, August 12, 2023
7:00-7:30am - Balloons fly in to Gull Meadow Farms
Balloons will take off just after sunrise. They will fly over the farm (weather dependent)
approximately 15-30 minutes after launching. Updates will be posted on social media
10:00am - Gull Meadow Farms market and activities open $12/person.Â
10:00am-2:00pm - Car Show
4:00pm - Food Trucks open On The Roll Hot Rod Grill. Skinny Kennv's.Â
Woodin Family Concessions)
4:30pm - Pilot and Crew Meet & Greet on the Balloon Field
6:30pm (approx.) - Hot air balloon launch from Gull Meadow Farms (weather dependent)
8:30pm (approx. - Balloon Glow begins, family activities close for the evening
Glow will last for approximately 30 minutes once balloons are inflated
If you plan to watch the glow, plan to arrive BEFORE 8:30pm so you don't miss it!
Sunday, August 13, 2023
7:00-7:30am - Balloons fly into Gull Meadow Farms
Balloons will take off just after sunrise. They will fly over the farm (weather dependent.
approximately 15-30 minutes after launching. Updates will be posted on social media
The market and activities are NOT open at this time
Derrick Jones, who founded the Kalamazoo Balloon Fest and has been its director since its inception in 2013, said: "We are excited to see you all at the Kalamazoo Balloon Fest this weekend at Gull Meadow Farms. The Kalamazoo Balloon Fest is a very special and unique event focused on Family Fun, it has become a staple in our community. Plan to bring your chairs and blankets to enjoy the festivities, relax, and most importantly, capture the colorful Balloons, both during their four balloon flights and our ever-popular Balloon Glow Friday & Saturday evening! Don't miss out on the fun and memories!"Â
Besides being the world-renowned balloon pilot responsible for the Zeigler Auto Group Hot Air Balloon-and many others-Jones has been a distinguished member of the Balloon Federation of America since 1995, and the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale since 2011. He is also Director of the award-winning Zeigler Maserati Alfa Romeo of Grandville dealership.
About Zeigler Auto Group
Zeigler Automotive Group is one of the largest privately-owned dealer groups in the U.S. with 82 franchises across 39 locations in Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan. Vehicle brands represented include all of the domestic and the majority of the imported manufacturers.
Besides its extensive automotive portfolio, the organization owns and operates Zeigler Motorsports, an 85,000-square-foot motorsports dealership and action park, offering 19 different powersports brands, plus its own onsite restaurant: Trak Houz Bar & Grill. Additionally, Zeigler Motorsports houses the Elevate Leadership & Team Building Academy, an executive training company.
The Kalamazoo-based dealer group also owns and operates Zeigler Pre-Owned of Chicago, three Byrider franchises, three finance companies, several insurance firms, and a leasing firm.
Founded in 1975, the organization employs over 2,400 people, ranking among the top 1% of automotive dealers in the nation with estimated annual sales of $2.2 billion for 2022.
The family-owned and operated company is well known for its commitment to both customer service and employee satisfaction. Zeigler is regularly recognized as one of the Best and Brightest Companies to Work for in the Nation, also earning similar accolades in Wisconsin, Chicago, and Michigan. Besides these prestigious accolades, Zeigler is also one of Glassdoor's 100 Best Places to Work in the U.S. for 2023, and among Glassdoor's top 10 U.S. companies for work-life balance.