One of Manitowoc's largest downtown festivals is Lakeshore Balloon Glow. On Friday, August 16, thousands will gather on either side of the Manitowoc River for food, drinks, and live entertainment. The most notable of these are the waterski show, lighting of the hot air balloons, Mischief & Magic show, aerial dance performance, and the fireworks to close the event. If you haven't been before, there are a few things to know to make the most of your evening.
Come hungry.
There are dozens of food trucks to choose from, most of which don't have a brick-and-mortar location so this is your opportunity to try something new! Wash that down with drinks from one of the beer tents. Proceeds from the drinks go to support The Chamber of Manitowoc County, so stay hydrated! Afterward, don't forget to get dessert — try the cookie truck or ice cream.
The balloons inflate at dusk.
There's plenty to do from the event's kickoff at 5 p.m. to close at 9 p.m., but the hot air balloons will inflate at dusk, approximately 7:45 p.m. They will be set up and stay on the ground in the big parking lot at 720 Quay Street, and visible up close from Burger Boat Park and Shipbuilders Park across the Manitowoc River, creating a beautiful reflection of the glowing colors.
The Children's Area is awesome.
Filled with bounce houses, bubbles, magic shows, snake charmers, balloon animals, face painting, and other kids activities provided by the Manitowoc Public Library, the Children's Area at Lakeshore Balloon Glow is one of the largest of any local event. New this year, kids will have the opportunity to meet Miss Wisconsin 2024, Mandi Genord. This area runs from 5 to 8:30 p.m. and is staffed with plenty of volunteers to keep things orderly and fun. The best part? It's all free!
There's a shuttle service.
This popular event packs the downtown, so nearby free street parking fills up quickly. A great solution is to take the complimentary shuttle bus! The shuttle will start at 4:45 p.m. and will continuously run, stopping at each location every 30 minutes. The pickup points are Lincoln High School JFK Fieldhouse parking lot, Roncalli High School, and Faith Church. Drop off at the event is in front of the Manitowoc Public Library. The last shuttle will leave the event grounds at 9:00 p.m.
Lakeshore Balloon Glow is too big of an event to cover everything here, and is best experienced in person! See all the details on the event page.
