Welcome to the Ottumwa Pro Balloon Races website.

Now in it's 34th year, 2011 will be host to the BFA State Championship.

Check out the event schedule for the full lineup.

• Carnival Rides
• Food
• Contests
• Live entertainment
• Hot air balloons galore

 Healthy Family Fest

Come and join us Sunday afternoon as local organizations bring child friendly games and share  information on what services they provide to the community.

Included are:

Ottumwa Fire Department

Bringing one of their trucks

Iowa Highway Patrol

Bike safety

ORMICS

Bringing an Ambulance

Ottumwa Noon Lions

Iowa Lions KidSight vision screenings

Along with WIC, CASA, Early Access and a host of others.

Historical Perspective

The initial year of the Ottumwa Pro Balloon Races was 1977, and as legend has it originated “over a cup of coffee”.  While I am not sure who was sipping coffee that day, one might suspect it included Pat Sheedy and Gene Schultz, and likely Jerry Millican.  They envisioned bringing balloonists to Ottumwa for an annual competition in the Ottumwa Park.

The 1977 Race was held in Ottumwa Park in the area where Beach Ottumwa is presently located.  Try as they might – Pat, Gene, and a rather small volunteer crew they had recruited, along with Balloon Meister Phil Gray of Indianola really had their hands full meeting all the obligations such an undertaking as this requires. 

For a number of years the Races remained in the Beach Ottumwa area – then the site was moved to the field just west of the Shelter House where it remains to this day.  This was probably a good move for at least a couple reasons – this area is protected a bit more from winds (the previous location was quite open so even the slightest breeze could result in no lift-off), and secondly it was in much closer proximity to the Shelter House, thus eliminating the need to rent a large tent for the event.