Battle Creek’s biggest festival celebrates flight – whether it’s hot air balloons, jet planes, Ferris wheels or fireworks.
New to the event? Then here are some tips.
The schedule
Field of Flight lasts from July 3-7 and each day has different flavors. If you want the air show and fireworks, go July 4 or July 6. If the carnival is your #1 priority, go on July 3, when admission is free. If you want to see something original, the night show with pyrotechnics is July 5. Check the full schedule here.
Free day
July 3 is a great day to bring the kids. Admission is free and parking is $10 per car. The carnival is open, there’s a balloon illume and a guy getting shot out of a cannon.
Thunderbirds go
The highlight of this year’s air show is the USAF Thunderbirds demonstration team. They’ll be flying the F-16 Fighting Falcon. Other show performers include acrobatic fliers, skydivers, jets and pyrotechnics.
Best photos
Anyone with a camera phone can get amazing pics during any of the hot air balloon events. The balloons are scheduled to either launch or land at the airport every night at 7 p.m. It’s a whimsical moment, when the balloons float overhead, close enough for everyone to wave to the pilots.
The balloon events depend on the weather and how much wind there is. The illume nights, however, don’t require a launch. Balloons are tethered to the ground and as the sky grows dark, the balloons light up with bursts of fire.
Bring seating
The festival takes place at an airport, so bring your own chairs. But don’t stop at the lawn chair – we see beach tents, sun umbrellas, and once even a portable hammock stand. There’s no shade in the field, so do what you can to keep cool.
Speaking of cool, coolers are allowed as long as they don’t contain glass or alcohol.
Treat yourself
There will be a lot of delicious fair food to indulge in, so pace yourself. Maybe start with cotton candy, move to BBQ ribs and tacos, cool off with shaved ice and lemon shake-ups, load up on Saratoga fries or fried cheese on a stick, then finish the night with an elephant ear.
Parking tips
Cash is needed for parking and no cards will be accepted at the admission gate – but they do have an ATM if you forget.
The parking areas are marked with signs, so take a picture of the sign closest to your vehicle. It’ll make it easier to find your parking spot at the end of the day, when it gets dark.
Win a free bike
Kids Day is July 7 and gift bags will be handed out at the gate for as long as supplies last. The big event of the day, though, is the bike giveaway – sign up to win a free kids bike.
Inflatable slides and go-karts are available for rides from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
